Continuing his series of squabbles in Kerala, governor Arif Mohammad Khan today refused to speak at a press conference until journalists from two Malayalam news channels departed.

Khan had held a news briefing at Ernakulam Guest House in Kochi earlier today. The two channels in question were Kairali TV and MediaOne. Kairali TV is backed by the CPIM. MediaOne, operated by Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd, was barred from transmitting by the union government earlier this year over “security concerns”. 

Standing in the centre of a cluster of journalists wielding mics and cameras, Khan said, “I won’t talk to anyone from Kairali...I will walk away. I hope there is no Kairali here. I hope there is no MediaOne here. Is there any MediaOne?”

“Yes, sir,” said a journalist from the channel. 

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Khan said. “Get out. I won’t talk to you. And I won’t talk to Kairali. Please go away. I will not talk to MediaOne...I am clear, I am repeatedly saying since last 25 days, I will not. If you want me to go away, I will go away. I don’t want to argue on this.”

Additionally, the New Indian Express quoted leader of the opposition VD Satheesan as saying that Jai Hind news channel, which is backed by his Congress party, “was not even allowed entry” to this press conference.

This is yet another step in Khan’s crusade against “cadre media” in Kerala. Last month, he again barred four news channels – Kairali, MediaOne, Jai Hind and Reporter TV – from attending a press conference.

Khan is currently at loggerheads with the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the state over a raft of issues, ranging from the appointment of vice-chancellors to a perceived insult at a 2019 event. The Kerala government, on its part, has accused Khan of being a tool in the hands of the RSS.

After today’s events, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists will hold a protest march to Raj Bhavan tomorrow against Khan’s “autocratic steps”.