![Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan](https://english.bharatexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tnm_import_sites_default_files_Pinarayi_ArifMohammedKhan_241022_1200_4-ezgif.com-avif-to-webp-converter.webp)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan
The BJP in Kerala has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of insulting the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by allegedly equating it to a private security service. Union Minister V Muraleedharan launched a sharp criticism against the chief minister, referring to remarks made by Vijayan regarding the deployment of CRPF personnel for the security of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The BJP called for an apology from Vijayan to the nation and its people over the purported remarks against the central force.
In a significant incident in Kollam district on Saturday, Governor Khan, facing a black flag protest by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), confronted the agitating student wing of the ruling CPI(M) by sitting on the roadside and criticizing the chief minister. Subsequently, the Centre provided Z+ security cover to Khan, who accused Vijayan of promoting lawlessness and asserted that he would not tolerate it.
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During a press conference in the state capital, Chief Minister Vijayan remarked, “The CRPF is not new to Kerala. The only thing special about it is that he (Governor Khan) has been clubbed along with a select group of RSS workers in the state who enjoy the protection of the Centre.” Vijayan listed the names of RSS functionaries receiving the protection of the central force in the state.
BJP leader Muraleedharan criticized the CM for his statement, praising the RSS as a “great organization” and stating that it was an insult to suggest that a force serving the country protects activists of a particular organization. Muraleedharan argued that Vijayan’s comments amounted to an insult to the CRPF and claimed that, as the head of the home department, he had demeaned Malayalees with such statements.
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“The CM should tender an apology to the country and its people for insulting the force like this,” he asserted. The BJP leader further alleged that Vijayan, in his role as the home minister, had failed to ensure adequate security for the governor.