In a growing political standoff, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has resisted a summons by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, escalating tensions over remarks related to gold smuggling in Malappuram. The Governor had called for explanations from top state officials regarding the Chief Minister’s comments on alleged gold smuggling and its connections to anti-state activities. However, the Chief Minister has rebuffed the Governor’s move, citing concerns over constitutional authority.
Governor’s Summons to Top Officials
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, on Monday, summoned Kerala’s Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), Shaik Darvesh Saheb, to appear at Raj Bhavan. The Governor sought direct explanations regarding recent remarks attributed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, particularly on the issues of gold smuggling in the Malappuram district and its alleged links to anti-national activities.
Additionally, the Governor sought clarifications on phone tapping allegations made by Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) PV Anwar. The officials were asked to present themselves at the Governor’s residence on Tuesday at 4 PM, following previous requests for reports on these issues, which had gone unanswered.
This summons came in response to a media report from September 30, which claimed that Chief Minister Vijayan had made statements about gold smuggling activities in Malappuram, a district known for a significant Muslim population. However, the Chief Minister’s office soon issued a clarification, stating that the remarks had been misrepresented in the report.
Chief Minister’s Opposition
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacted strongly to the Governor’s actions, sending a letter to the Raj Bhavan, where he argued that summoning high-ranking state officials without prior communication with the elected government exceeded the constitutional powers vested in the Governor. According to Vijayan, the Governor’s actions represent a breach of protocol, undermining the autonomy of the state’s elected officials.
The Chief Minister’s letter stressed that state governance cannot be subjected to unilateral interference by the Governor’s office. In his view, the Governor has overstepped his authority by bypassing the established chain of command within the state’s administration.
CPI(M) Defends the Chief Minister
The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(M), also took a strong stand in defense of Chief Minister Vijayan. M V Govindan, the state secretary of the CPI(M), accused the media of spreading misinformation regarding the gold smuggling issue. At a press conference, Govindan claimed that the media had created a “false narrative” by wrongly attributing the controversial remarks to the Chief Minister.
“The publication that first reported these statements has already expressed regret for its errors, and the issue should have ended there. Unfortunately, some sections of the media are perpetuating a baseless narrative, suggesting that the government has hired a public relations agency to manage its image,” Govindan said.
He further pointed out that despite the Chief Minister’s clarification, certain media outlets have continued to question his statements and actions. Govindan also criticized the media’s portrayal of Vijayan, stating, “Even the Chief Minister’s smile is subject to scrutiny—whether he smiles or not, he faces criticism.”
Gold Smuggling: A Law and Order Issue
M V Govindan further elaborated on the issue of gold smuggling in Kerala, linking it to a broader law and order problem. The CPI(M) leader emphasized that the smuggling operations at Karipur Airport in Malappuram were primarily the responsibility of the Customs department, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Government.
“The Customs department is tasked with preventing gold smuggling, yet they have allowed it to continue unabated. This is a central government issue, not a state issue. However, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that state police forces have been forced to intervene,” Govindan stated.
He added that the state police had stepped in to address the situation after five deaths were reported in connection to smuggling activities at the Karipur Airport. He described the actions of PV Anwar, the MLA who accused the state of inaction, as nothing more than a “baseless campaign” against the government.
Govindan’s comments suggest that the state government believes the issue of gold smuggling cannot be solved by the state police alone and that the Customs department must take more responsibility in preventing such illegal activities.
Opposition’s Criticism
Meanwhile, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Vijayan. The opposition bloc accused the Chief Minister of portraying the Malappuram district, which has a predominantly Muslim population, in a negative light.
The UDF leaders argued that Vijayan’s remarks, whether misattributed or not, have caused damage to the district’s reputation, further polarizing the community. They also alleged that the Chief Minister’s comments were part of a larger political agenda that sought to create divisions among communities for electoral gains.
The opposition has also questioned the state government’s commitment to tackling gold smuggling, accusing the ruling CPI(M) of downplaying the severity of the issue. According to the UDF, the state’s failure to act decisively on this front has allowed smuggling networks to grow more entrenched in Kerala.
Phone Tapping Allegations
In addition to the controversy over gold smuggling, the Governor also sought clarifications on allegations of phone tapping made by MLA PV Anwar. The lawmaker had claimed that the state government was engaged in illegal surveillance, tapping the phones of political rivals and citizens.
The Governor’s interest in the phone tapping issue has added another dimension to the conflict between the Governor’s office and the state government. Though the Chief Minister has dismissed these allegations, the Governor appears determined to seek an explanation directly from state officials.
Constitutional Implications
The standoff between the Governor and the Chief Minister raises important questions about the constitutional balance of power between the state and the Governor’s office. According to India’s constitution, the Governor is meant to act as a figurehead in most state matters, with executive authority resting primarily with the elected government.
However, the current clash highlights the potential for friction when the Governor’s role is seen as expanding beyond its traditional bounds. Chief Minister Vijayan’s refusal to comply with the Governor’s summons underscores the tension between an appointed official and an elected leader, with significant implications for how state governance is conducted.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding gold smuggling in Kerala and the remarks attributed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have snowballed into a significant political issue. With the Governor summoning top state officials for explanations and the Chief Minister resisting these moves, the matter has escalated into a constitutional dispute.
As the debate rages on, both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition UDF are positioning themselves around the key issues of governance, law and order, and the role of the media in shaping political narratives. Whether the tensions will ease or further deepen remains to be seen, but the ongoing row underscores the complex relationship between state governments and Governors in India’s federal structure.
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