These are the questions which springs to mind in the wake of the dangerous confrontation between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on one side and the ruling Left Democratic Front(LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on the other over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Kerala Governor has been active ever since the State Assembly – the first state in the country to legislate against the CAA and the NRC – passed a near-unanimous resolution demanding the scrapping of the CAA. The Governor fired the first salvo at the Indian Historical Congress (IHC) held recently in Kannur.

The war of words has escalated with almost daily exchanges between the Governor and the LDF and the UDF leaders. The former has not missed a single occasion in his interaction with the media to be critical of the anti-CAA protests raging across the country.

Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao has filed a petition with Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for stating “that the ‘unconstitutional Bill’ will have no place in Kerala and the State will not implement it” and “asking people to oppose it”.

Both sides have upped the ante since then with Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that the Government will not budge an inch from its resolve to go ahead with the CAA and the Kerala Chief Minister writing to 11 non-BJP Chief Ministers requesting them to pass Kerala-type resolutions against the CAA and the NRC.

The CM has rejected the Union Law Minister’s contention that Parliament alone can enact laws on issues like citizenship. Vijayan has countered the argument stating that states also have their own privileges and that Parliament can ride rough shoed over the States’ sentiments in a federal system prevalent in the country. Also, nothing prevents a State to pass a resolution against a law passed by Parliament. The resolution only urges the Government to scrap the CAA. It is only a request. And the States have a democratic right to pass such resolutions. To argue otherwise is to inflict injury on the cooperative federalism concept the Centre makes much of.

The Kerala Governor has in the meantime gone on record that the resolution passed by the State Assembly has no legal validity. Such open criticism by the Governor amounts to a clear violation of the restrictions imposed on him by of the office he holds. That the Governor continues to air his criticism is, to say the least, unfortunate. In a deplorable show of indifference, the Governor has completely ignored the feelings and strong sentiments of the people of Kerala expressed through the resolution. Such gubernatorial apathy is unacceptable. That is the prevalent perception among the people at large.

What are the options before the State Government in the face of such unacceptable gubernatorial conduct? The Kerala Chief Minister has, so far, avoided making a direct comment on the Governor’s criticism. But he won’t be able to maintain silence for long. Already, he is under pressure from the UDF leaders who have urged him to voice his displeasure over the Governor’s stance. If the CM breaks his silence, that will give a new dimension to the Governor-Government showdown.

Alternatively, the CM can call on the Governor separately to express his unhappiness over the Governor’s stand or he can lead an all-party delegation to meet Arif Mohammed Khan to register the State’s strong feelings on the sensitive issue.

Another option is to get the State Assembly to pass another resolution deploring the Governor’s partisan conduct and demanding his recall. In fact, the Congress leaders have already asked the Governor to quit on his own. If he fails to do so, the party will make it difficult for him to move freely in the State. Senior party leader K. Muralidharan has warned. Such pronouncements forebode a dangerous escalation which neither the State nor the country can afford at a time when the nation is facing an unprecedented financial crisis.

A third alternative is for the CM to lead an all-party delegation to meet President Ram Nath Kovind to register the State’s strong sense of indignation over the Governor’s partisan conduct.

There are significant straws in the wind. The Kerala CM’s stance has already earned praise from his Punjab counterpart Captain Amarinder Singh. The Captain has written to the Union Law Minister stating his intent not to implement the CAA in Punjab. Maharashtra Government is also mulling the possibility of a Kerala-type resolution against the CAA and the NRC. It is becoming increasingly clear that the anti-CAA sentiment is growing stronger. Also, the Modi Government’s proclivity to impose its majoritarian agenda will encounter fierce resistance. Will the Modi-Shah duo read the writing on the wall and drop the dangerous move to go ahead with the CAA and the NRC? (IPA Service)