Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a jab at the CPM following an alleged attack by the student wing on Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s convoy on Monday evening.

In a pointed statement on X over the incident, Tharoor condemned the act as “disgraceful” and “shameful”. He expressed his outrage, calling the behaviour of SFI members, who allegedly blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohd Khan’s car and assaulted it, completely unacceptable.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 12, 2023

Also Read:‘CM Pinarayi Vijayan conspiring to hurt me’: Kerala governor’s big claim after convoy attacked

Tharoor also criticised the police under Communist rule, accusing them of condoning the ruling party’s misconduct. He highlighted the police’s inaction during the assault on the Governor and their forceful handling of peaceful student demonstrators against the Chief Minister, labelling it as shameful.

He wrote, “The police under Communist rule have been agents of lawlessness, complicit in the ruling party’s worst excesses. They allowed an assault on the Governor while allowing the manhandling of peaceful student demonstrators against the CM. Shameful.”

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Earlier this week, activists allegedly affiliated with the Students Federation of India (SFI), a student wing of the ruling CPI(M), reportedly attacked Khan’s convoy as he was en route to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, sparking a political controversy in the state.

Responding to the incident, Khan lashed out at the government, stating that there is a concerted effort at play to cause him physical harm, hinting at Chief Minister Vijayan’s involvement. He asserted that the attack wasn’t accidental but a targeted act against him.

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Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stated, “Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals…This was the fifth incident…The rods on which they had the black flags, they were using those rods to hit the car…There are so many scratches on the car…Everything is being done under his direction (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan). It is he who has hatched this conspiracy…These people are working on the instructions of the Chief Minister…I do not try to scare anybody, there is no question I shall be scared of anything…”

#WATCH | Delhi: On SFI’s black flag protest against him, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan says, “…Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals…This was the fifth incident…The rods on which they had the black flags, they were using those rods to… pic.twitter.com/nYOQIl91Ko

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Apparently, tensions have been escalating between the Kerala government and the governor over the past few years. The government has also approached the Supreme Court, accusing Khan of delaying bills.

Rift in INDIA Bloc?

Opponents in the state of Kerala, Congress and the CPM are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc at the central level. After the Congress’ defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vijayan condemned the party, attributing its loss to “greed and a lust for power.”

Congress leader VD Satheesan criticised the chief minister, suggesting that Vijayan seemed more pleased by the party’s loss than BJP Kerala chief K Surendran.

Despite the Congress’ victory in Telangana, its defeat in the three Hindi heartland states has made it the target of criticism from various INDIA allies, including the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party.The next meeting of the alliance, scheduled for December 19, is expected to focus on seat-sharing discussions.