“I Disagree But…”: Arif Mohammad Khan’s Disclaimer before his CAA remark stuns Kerala assembly

In a shameful incident at the Kerala assembly, legislators of the LDF government heckled Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, as he entered the state assembly to deliver his policy speech, but Arif Mohammed Khan schooled the legislators in a way that they will remember for a long time. As the parliamentary precedent, the Governor read the speech prepared by the government containing anti-CAA paragraphs but to their surprise and displeasure, Khan also made a rare clarification about his dissenting views.

Arif Mohammed Khan surprised everyone as he announced while reading the speech, “I’m going to read this Para because the Honourable Chief Minister wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of policy or programme,” Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said. According to the parliamentary precedents and rules, the governor is bound to deliver this speech prepared by the government, as usual, as long as it contains information about policies and programmes of the government.

The paragraph highlighted by the Governor mentioned the anti-CAA resolution passed by the Kerala assembly and the suit before the Supreme Court, both of which do not fall under the purview of policy or programme. It said citizenship cannot be based on religion, “as this goes against the grain of secularism, which is part of the basic structure of our Constitution”.

Notably, complete pandemonium had gripped the house as legislators blocked the governor when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan ushered him in for presenting the policy address. Marshals in the assembly had to form a human chain to let the governor reach the dais and deliver the speech as MLAs held placards and shouted “Go Back” slogans.

This is not the first time when we have witnessed the astute wit of Arif Mohammed Khan as previously he has schooled pseudo- journalist Arfa Khanum, Distortion Irfan Habib and liberal Rajdeep Sardesai. Notably in December last year, as Arif Mohammed Khan was speaking at the Indian history congress’s inaugural session and touched upon the protests against the CAA, Irfan Habib went bonkers and got up from his seat to physically stop him. Governor slammed him, “You have every right to protest. But you cannot shout me down.” He also said, “When you shut the door for debate and discussion, you are promoting a culture of violence.”

The liberal cabal hates him for his outright honesty, without even realizing the constitutional obligations that the governor’s office entails; Rajdeep Sardesai had even termed him the government’s agent. In an interview, he spoke to the Governor in a condescending tone, saying that he was a BJP-appointee. The Governor, however, wasted no time in showing Rajdeep his place. On being asked, “Do you feel you are a rubberstamp? As a Governor, you are a rubberstamp who has to pass what the government says,” Khan replied, “If I allow myself to be treated as a rubberstamp, then this question can arise. How anybody else can treat me as a rubberstamp?”

Arif Mohammad Khan has time and time again proved his honest and upright credentials, he is a social reformer and thinker who has proved his mettle by resigning from a ministerial post over a social cause. The way he is mocking the liberals in their own game is amusing.