Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan on Friday said he was not a leader of the Opposition to constantly criticise the state government.
Speaking to media persons here, Khan said he had criticised the state government only for its unconstitutional acts. His job is not to clash with the state government, but to ensure that the work of the government proceeds according to the constitution and the law.
Arif Mohammad Khan conceded that the state government is doing good work in many fields, including in the areas of health and social welfare.
On the controversial university amendment bill, he said he has no problem in removing the governor from the position of the chancellor of the universities in the state. He has decided to send the bill (university amendment bill, removing the governor from the position of the chancellor of the universities in the state), to the president, as education is in the concurrent list and the bill was passed by assembly without the concurrence of the Centre.
“Had education not been on the concurrent list, the bill would have been signed immediately,” Khan said.
Responding to governor’s conciliatory remarks on the government, Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the Opposition didn’t ask the governor to assume the role of the Opposition.
“None of us asked the governor to criticise the government. We will do the work of the opposition. The Governor does not have to undertake it. We are pointing out the wrong things the government is doing, including legislation. We will not take the side of the governor or the government. We say then and now that the Governor and the government are in collusion. After the Governor’s policy address in the Assembly, the people also understood it,” Satheesan said.