Arif Mohammad Khan (born 18 November 1951) is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [1][2]
He is currently the Governor of Kerala.[3] He is a former Union Minister. He has held several portfolios ranging from energy to civil aviation.[4]
Khan started his political career as a student leader. He was the President of Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union in the year 1972-73 and also its honorary Secretary a year earlier (1971–72).[5] He contested the first legislative assembly election from Siyana constituency of Bulandshahar on Bharatiya Kranti Dal party's banner but was defeated. He became a member of the legislative assembly of UP in 1977 at the age of 26.[6]
Journalist Sanjay Kapoor, in his book "Bad Money, Bad Politics" has claimed that, Khan received an amount of 7 crores of Hawala money. As per the CBI charge sheet, he was accused of being paid this amount of money when he was Union Minister but he was later acquitted in the case.[7]
Political views
Reformation in Islam
Arif Mohammad Khan has always supported reformation within Muslims.[8] He resigned from position of Minister of state protesting against Rajiv Gandhi Congress Government stand on Shah Bano case in 1986.[9] He defended Supreme Court judgment on Shah Bano case in Parliament.[10][11] Khan opposed triple talaq in India and said that it should be punishable with 3 years in jail.[12] Khan has asserted that Muslim men are still allowed to be polygamous and can also give a divorce easily by paying paltry sums.[13]
Khan welcomed the Karnataka High Court's judgement upholding that the hijab is not an essential garment according to Islam during the 2022 Karnataka hijab row, stating that enforcing the wearing of a hijab is a conspiracy to push back Muslim females into the four walls of their homes and reduce their career prospects - he gave an example of imagining a female IPS officer who is responsible for controlling law and order in a district, who cannot do so wearing a hijab.[14][15]
On being asked for a reaction about the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur by reporters, Khan responded that madrasas teach that blasphemy should be punished by beheading and demanded that what is taught there should be examined.[16]
Current activities
Khan has been deeply involved in writing since his student days. He is the author of the best selling book of the year 2010 Text and Context: Quran and Contemporary Challenges, published by Rupa & Co.[17] Now Arif Mohammad Khan is actively involved in writing articles and columns related to Islam and Sufism.[18] He has advocated abolishing of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.[9] Arif Mohammad Khan also supported the Supreme Court of India's Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum to make the right to maintenance of a divorced Muslim wife absolute.[19][20]
Governor of Kerala (2019 - present)
Khan was appointed the Governor of Kerala on 1 September 2019 by the order of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. He took charge as Governor on 6 September 2019 from P. Sathasivam.[21][22] The latest political controversy regarding the appointment of Vice chancellors of backgrounds from SFI/CPIM to the universities of Kerala has put him in the spotlight.[23]
