Despite reservations, Kerala Guv reads anti-CAA reference

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29

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Amid a high voltage protest and boycott by the Opposition Congress-led UDF, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday presented his policy address in the Assembly and read out references to anti-CAA resolution passed by the House, despite disagreeing with it.

Reading out the the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, “Our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of our constitution.”

It’s learnt that the Governor decided to read out the reference to the state’s anti-CAA stance after a letter was sent by Vijayan this morning, in which the Chief Minister had requested Khan to read the policy address “in its entirety sans any additions or deletions.”

The day also saw an unprecedented protest by the UDF members, who also boycotted the policy address. As the Governor was being ushered into the Assembly hall by Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, UDF members blocked Khan and raised “Go Back” slogans holding aloft “Repeal CAA” and “Recall Governor” placards and banners. The Speaker was seen repeatedly trying to pacify the agitating MLAs, but in vain, after which the watch and ward personnel, who stood as a wall protecting the Governor, cleared his path to the dais.

In his policy address, Khan said though he had his “reservations and disagreement” over the subject, he would read the para 18 containing reference to anti-CAA matter, just to “honour” the wish of the Chief Minister. When Khan began his policy address, the Opposition members trooped out of the Assembly hall raising slogans and staged a sit-in at the gate of the Assembly.

“This august body (Kerala Assembly) unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Central Government to abrogate the CAA 2019 which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles underlying our Constitution,” he said.

As he was leaving the Assembly, reporters asked him about the unprecedented protest faced by him, to which the Governor quipped that he had faced worst protests than this.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who protested along with his front MLAs, said to mediapersons that the state government and the Governor had come to a truce. — PTI