Thiruvananthapuram: Journalists in Kerala today held a protest march to the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram after Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday expelled two journalists from a briefing he was addressing at an Earnakulam guest house.
He accused the two journalists and their channels of bias towards the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. One of them, Kairali News, is the channel of ruling CPI (M) while Malayalam satellite channel Media One is facing a ban from the central government over security clearance issues.
Khan, who is at loggerheads with the Left government on various issues, on Monday had alleged that a system of "oligarchy" is prevailing in CPI(M)-ruled state, and it was evident from the incidents of party cadres being appointed in government jobs.
Amidst the ongoing tussle between the Raj Bhavan and the Left government over various issues, the ruling government has also launched a massive grassroot level campaign across the state against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan as the simmering tension between him and the front-led government over various issues seems to have reached a boiling point.
Commenting on the ongoing protest, VD Satheesan, LoP, Kerala Assembly told news agency ANI, "Governor said 'get out' to selective media y'day. He's been doing this consistently, abusing even the Opposition leader i.e. me, other leaders, ministers. He's trying to be in limelight & make news, doing unconstitutional things."
