Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Governor Arif Mohammed Khan of deliberately attempting to disrupt peace in the southern state by making provocative statements.

The accusation by the CM came during a press conference held as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach programme of the state government.

Responding to reporters' queries about the Governor calling the protesting SFI activists as "criminals", Vijayan said Khan has "reached a situation where he is saying whatever comes to mind".

"He (Khan) is forgetting that he is the Governor of Kerala," the CM said.

Vijayan said that he had earlier also pointed out that Khan was "deliberately attempting to destroy the peace in the state through his actions" and the same has been proven by the Governor's subsequent actions.

"He (Khan) has tried to create the maximum possible provocation on every issue," he added.

The CM also criticised Khan for referring to the protesting activists of the CPI(M)'s student wing,?the Students Federation of India,?as "criminals" and "goondas".

"How can he use such rude words against the protesters?" he asked.

Khan, a day ago, reiterated that the volunteers of the ruling CPI(M)'s students' wing were "criminals" to whom he was not accountable to explain any of his decisions.

Accusing the protesting students of being "criminals hired by the chief minister," he had previously made allegations. Earlier this week, he went on to claim that the Chief Minister was 'conspiring' to cause him physical harm.

These accusations stemmed from an incident where SFI activists allegedly attacked Khan's vehicle while en route to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for his departure to Delhi.

On Sunday, Vijayan criticized the Governor for purportedly attempting to confront the protesting SFI activists who had allegedly blocked and attacked his vehicle earlier in the week.

"Has anyone ever tried to physically confront or take on those waving black flags at them? And then he (Khan) boasts that they (protestors) ran away when he went towards them. Look how provocative his statements are. His actions and interventions are totally bereft of common sense," the CM said.

Claiming that the Governor's actions violated all normal protocols, he said the central government needs to take a look into that.

The CM further said that when black flags are waved at him or his cavalcade, neither he nor the ministers or members of the Left front use derogatory words against the protesters.

"We only say the protestors should not become violent. But, we do not get down from our vehicles and try to confront them. We let the police take action," Vijayan said.

The SFI has been staging widespread protests against the Governor alleging that he has been pushing the BJP-RSS nominees to the senate of various universities in Kerala using his authority as the Chancellor of the universities in the state.

The SFI has been alleging that Khan's actions were part of the saffronisation agenda of the BJP.

(With PTI inputs)