Amid protests, Kerala Governor reads out anti-CAA portion to honour CM's wish

Thiruvananthapuram: While addressing the budget session at the Kerala Assembly on Wednesday, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan faced an unruly session when MLAs of the United Democratic Front (UDF) displayed placards and raised slogans while blocking his path on way to the podium. He was eventually escorted by House marshals with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also by his side.

"I have seen much worse than this when I was a member of the assembly," Khan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

In the assembly, while reading his policy address, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan read out a portion against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) stating that he was doing so to "honour the wish" of chief minister Pinrayi Vijayan.

Khan said although he disagreed with the state government over its anti-CAA resolution requesting the Centre to abrogate the Act he would still read out the paragraph.

"Now I come to Para 18, I have been corresponding with the honourable chief minister for the last few days, I have my reservations because in my view...I am going to read it, I am going to read this because the Honorable CM wants me to read this," he said.

"Although I hold the view that this doesn`t come under the definition of policy or program. The CM has himself said in his letter that this is the view of government. I disagree, but to honour his wish I am going to read this para," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

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The paragraph goes as: "Our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion. The august house has passed a resolution requesting the central government to abrogate the CAA which my government believes goes against cardinal principles and line of our constitution..."

On Monday, Congress and Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had accused Khan of acting as an agent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he is also accused of acting against the dignity of the state assembly.