Rift between Kerala govt, Governor only an 'adjustment', alleges LoP Satheesan

The 'rift' is to divert attention from more serious issues, such as the crisis in the higher education sector, Satheesan said.

Kochi: Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, on Sunday alleged that the so-called "rift" between the state government and the Governor was merely an "adjustment" between the CPI(M) and the BJP to divert attention from more serious issues, such as the crisis in the higher education sector.

Welcoming the reported settlement between the state government and the Kerala University Vice Chancellor over the suspension of the varsity registrar, he told reporters here that it was the opposition that had first demanded "a truce to protect the future of students." The ruling CPI(M)’s student wing, SFI, had suspended its agitation against Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal after he held discussions with Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Friday.

The opposition had pointed out that trivial issues—such as renting out the Senate Hall for a function—should not disrupt the functioning of universities, Congress leader Satheesan told reporters.

He said students are leaving colleges and universities in the state, and the sector is in "deep crisis." He alleged that SFI students were asked to hold protests against the Governor and the VC to divert attention from these serious problems.

During the tenure of the previous Governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, he too would raise certain issues against the government whenever it faced a crisis, to divert attention from live issues, Satheesan alleged.

He claimed that the health sector in the state is on ventilator support, and the higher education sector is in shambles.

He also pointed out that the CPI(M)-led state government, which now accuses the VC of "being pro-RSS", had itself appointed him as the Vice Chancellor of the Health University.

The issue at Kerala University began with the renting out of the Senate Hall to a religious organisation for a function attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar on June 25, where a picture of ‘Bharat Mata’ was displayed on stage.

The varsity registrar, who initially granted permission for the function, later revoked it. However, the Governor attended the event, defying the order.

The registrar, K S Anil Kumar, was subsequently suspended by the VC for denying permission for a function attended by the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university.