Tenure over, Kerala governor renews spat with govt, now over gold smuggling

The conflict between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has resumed after a pause of some months — this time fuelled by allegations surrounding gold smuggling and anti-national activities.

The war of words intensified on Friday (October 11) as Governor Khan criticized the Chief Minister’s recent statements, claiming they were riddled with contradictions.

Following that, a resolute CPI(M) state secretary said during a media briefing on October 11: “It’s better that Arif Mohammed Khan realises he’s just a caretaker Governor from September 6, as per Article 156 of the Constitution, and stops threatening the government. We’ve seen these antics before.”

Spat over gold smuggling

He was responding to the Governor’s accusations against the chief minister, where Khan suggested that the CM had something to hide in the gold smuggling and hawala scandal, as mentioned in his controversial interview with a media house.

Also, in a media briefing, Khan expressed confusion over Pinarayi’s explanation of alleged gold smuggling in the state. He highlighted that while the chief minister denied any claims of anti-national forces operating in Kerala, he simultaneously acknowledged that gold smuggling constitutes a crime against the nation. This contradiction, according to Khan, raises significant concerns about the government’s transparency and accountability.

Also read: Kerala Guv wants presidential attention on gold smuggling

Governor ups the ante

Khan’s frustration was further compounded by Pinarayi’s refusal to send the state police chief and chief secretary to the Raj Bhavan when summoned for clarification on these serious allegations. The governor suggested that this decision indicated that the chief minister might be trying to conceal information.

“I say it again. The chief minister is not coming to the Raj Bhavan, nor is he allowing others to come because he has something to hide,” Khan asserted, referring to a past incident wherein Pinarayi’s own principal secretary was arrested in a gold-smuggling case.

Pinarayi’s retort

In response to the governor’s accusations, Pinarayi has maintained that his administration is committed to upholding Constitutional protocols. He has rejected Khan’s demand for a direct briefing from state officials, arguing that such requests should be routed through him following Constitutional norms. The chief minister has emphasized that the governor’s actions could be seen as an infringement on democratic governance.

The chief minister’s office has issued a statement asserting that it would soon provide the report Khan asked for regarding the controversial statements made during a national media interview. However, he reiterated that any communication with state officials must follow proper channels.

Rebuttal from Kerala police

Adding another layer to this unfolding drama, the Kerala police have officially rubbished Khan’s claim about their website allegedly stating that proceeds from gold smuggling were being funnelled to banned organizations. The police clarified that their website only contains statistical data related to gold seizures and does not make any assertions about funding anti-national activities.

This rebuttal came after Khan accused the chief minister of keeping him uninformed and expressed his intention to report these alleged activities to the President of India, further escalating tensions between Raj Bhavan and the state government.

Also read: Kerala: Pinarayi govt transfers ADGP Ajithkumar from Law and Order

CPI(M) versus governor

CPI(M) leaders have accused Khan of acting at the behest of the BJP and RSS, suggesting that he is creating a “Constitutional crisis” in Kerala. MV Govindan, CPI(M) state secretary, has stated that Khan’s actions are “clearly anti-Constitutional” and urged him to maintain decorum befitting his office.

As tensions mount, CPI(M) leaders argue that his recent actions demonstrate a preconceived agenda rather than adherence to Constitutional duties. Govindan has dismissed Khan’s threats of reporting the state government to central authorities as mere “rumblings”.

Broader strategy for non-BJP states?

“The Governor of Kerala has no understanding of Constitutional principles or conventions. The clearest evidence of this is his act of summoning officials for inquiry. His duty is to act on the advice and recommendations of the Cabinet and, if he has Constitutional doubts, to refer them to the President for clarification. The Governor has no right to directly summon or inquire about officials working under the state government without informing the government. The governor is operating in complete disregard of these Constitutional principles,” said TP Ramakrishnan, the LDF convenor.

“The governor’s tenure ended on September 6, and his continued actions under the privilege of remaining in office until a new governor arrives are highly objectionable,” he added.

Claims and counter-claims

Former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac echoed these sentiments, arguing that such tactics are part of a broader strategy employed in non-BJP states across India, where governors are being used to destabilize democratically elected governments.

On the other hand, Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan has been maintaining that the chief minister and governor are playing a cat-and-mouse game by blaming each other even though they are hand-in-glove as seen on various occasions.

Also read: Kerala govt does many things not in accordance with law: Governor

Tenure steeped in controversy

Ever since he assumed the Kerala Raj Bhavan office in September 2019, Governor Khan has created a series of controversies with the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. His nominations of ABVP members to university senates ignited widespread protests, with the ruling CPI(M) accusing him of attempting to “saffronise” education.

A notable incident occurred during the 80th Indian History Congress in 2019, where Khan labelled eminent historian Professor Irfan Habib a “goonda” for allegedly heckling him, escalating tensions with academic figures. (Dr Habib was marking his protest on the stage in response to the opening speech, as Khan made controversial statements regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and suggested that those opposing it were anti-national.)

Uncertain future

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has staged multiple protests against Khan, who even withdrew his “pleasure” from minister KN Balagopal for remarks criticizing the Union government’s partiality towards the state. The Doctrine of Pleasure allows the President and Governors to terminate civil servants’ services at their discretion, as stated in Article 310 of the Indian Constitution. However, Khan had to withdraw his statement amid widespread protests and after several Constitutional experts stepped in against his action.

As the governor and the state government continue their war of words, with the governor’s tenure officially ended, the implications for governance and Constitutional integrity remain uncertain. With escalating accusations and no resolution in sight, this conflict is set to shape Kerala’s political narrative in the coming weeks—until either a new governor is appointed or Khan’s term is extended.