THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  In protest at Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's failure to sign any bills or ordinances relevant to the higher education sector, thousands of CPI-M activists surrounded his official residence, the Raj Bhavan, on Tuesday.

Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister, and his cabinet members did not attend the demonstration.

Since the Governor declined to sign any ordinances or bills pertaining to the higher education sector, Vijayan and the Governor have been at odds.

Khan refused to bend, so the CPI-M declared they would march to the Raj Bhavan to express their displeasure.
Sitaram Yechuri, general secretary of the CPI-M, opened the demonstration by stating that a strange and unhealthy scenario had developed and that the health of democracy had been harmed by the disagreement between the Governor and the Government.

Yechuri said, "I have known this governor for the past 30 years and the current situation is a policy matter issue and not a personal matter. The higher education sector in India is the issue and it is not just in Kerala but in all the non-BJP-ruled states, this has become an issue. The office of the governor is reduced, as an office advancing the political motive of the Centre." Yechuri continued by saying that Kerala's youth have potential and the state's universities have solid reputations.

As India's future is to be converted into a monolithic nature, which will damage our nation's secular nature, the Modi government intends to centralise education. Therefore, we must all work together to stop this evil plan of the Sangh Parivar forces, added Yechuri.

A day after the Kerala High Court fired the vice chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) for lacking the qualifications required by the University Grants Commission, there will be a protest in his honour.

Khan has asked 10 V-Cs in the state as to why no action should be taken against them given that their selections did not follow UGC regulations. The Supreme Court invalidated the appointment of the vice-chancellor of the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, which is located in the state capital city, last month. As a result, Khan has engaged in legal battles with the Vijayan administration. The case is currently before the Kerala High Court, and all 10 vice-chancellors are likely to have very little chance of continuing.

However, the protests are peaceful and Khan is currently out of the state.

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