'I'VE NEVER INTERFERED IN THE RUNNING OF KERALA GOVT'

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan takes questions on variety of issues, including his strong disagreements with Pinarayi Vijayan, in the 10th edition of Delhi Dialogues

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Arif Mohammed Khan responds to a range of questions about his conflict with the Left Front government, its priorities and the state's economic crisis. He also speaks about his equation with the chief ninister and as well as issues concerning his conscience. Excerpts:

Shahid Faridi: You once quoted from Maulana Azad's 1946 interview saying that the worst thing a person can do to himself is suppress the voice of his conscience. How do you negotiate the potential conflict between your duties as a governor and the voice of your conscience?

There would have been no controversy if I had ignored my conscience. The very fact that people ask me these questions is because I don't follow the general practice. Conscience means I have taken an oath that I shall preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of India and shall serve the interest of the people of Kerala to the best of my ability. This is the main source of guidance. I do not want to arrogate to myself that I shall decide what is right or wrong.

Prabhu Chawla: The Kerala CM also takes oath... There will always be a conflict...

No. Here, I will go by the wisdom of the fathers of our Constitution. India, historically, has been politically fragmented. It was culturally and spiritually united as one entity.

Look at the debate of the Constituent Assembly what has been said and why this office came into existence. They were of the view that we have these laws you can change in a day's time. But, to change the habits and attitudes, it requires a long time. We are so full of diversity. Traditionally, we have viewed diversity as a great our unity source to strengthen Indian culture has always believed in unity, and not uniformity. But, because we have been politically fragmented, therefore, laws have been changed, the Constitution has been changed. But the mindset, which represents those old tendencies, still exists in society.