Kerala Guv's visit: SFI activists stage protest at Calicut varsity campus; PM Arsho arrested
Kozhikode: Days after allegedly being attacked by SFI activists in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan anticipates a similar protest from the left-wing student organisation when he visits the Calicut University campus on Saturday.
SFI activists observed a protest at the University entrance despite the presence of more than 500 police officers on campus in preparation for the Governor's visit. The officers on duty proceeded to remove activists who were holding a sit-in protest at the university entrance. According to the latest reports, SFI state secretary PM Arsho and other senior leaders were taken into custody by the police.
It is reported that the Governor will arrive at the Karipur International Airport around 6.15 p.m. and reach the University campus by 7 p.m.
To attend various programmes later in the day, Khan was initially scheduled to stay at the government guest house in Kozhikode but announced a change of plans.
"I was planning to stay at the government guest house. Then I was told that they (Students Federation of India) had said that they wouldn't allow me to enter the university. Then I said change the programme and I will stay at the university campus itself," Khan told reporters in New Delhi.
The Governor said he would get out of the car in case the protestors reach the vehicle.
"If someone comes near my car, I will immediately stop it and get down. Why should they hit my car? They should hit me. If they have guts, they should hit me. They want to frighten me. I am not the one who can be frightened. They are bullying," Khan said.
Recently, while on his way to the International Airport at Thiruvananthapuram, the SFI activists allegedly attacked Khan's car following which he alighted from the vehicle.
The student union has been protesting against the actions of Khan as the Chancellor of the universities and nominating BJP-ABVP activists as senate members in various universities.