RSS chief unfurls Tricolour in Kerala, defies state rule

Once again to the chagrin of the left-ruled Kerala, ideological rival Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday unfurled the national flag at a school run by Sangh workers in Palakkad district on India's 69th Republic Day.

Bhagwat was in Kerala as part of a three-day RSS camp. "I wish every citizen of our nation a very happy Republic Day. There are different languages, cultures, traditions, customs, etc, we still are united," the Bhagwat said.

This is the second time that Bhagwat has taken on the Pinarayi Vijayan government by hoisting the Tricolour.

Bhagwat had kicked up a row last Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at government-aided Karnakiamman Higher Secondary School, flouting an order issued by the Palakkad collector categorically stating that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag in an aided school.

This time he flouted a state government order issued on January 24 and unfurled the flag at Vyasa Vidhya Peetam Higher Secondary School — an institution run by RSS arm Vidya Bharati. The government order had stated that only heads of departments and educational institutions had the authority to hoist the Tricolour.

Devan Gopal, school principal, said that the government circular on hoisting the Tricolour was politically motivated. Gopal said, "The circular by the government is not applicable to the Central Board of Secondary Education-affiliated schools. Therefore, we are supposed to obey the rules and regulations of this board. The instructions have been given to different state government schools. Kerala government is doing such acts out of political interest, as I can see no other state doing that."

THE CIRCULAR

Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government in Kerala had issued a circular on January 24 stating that only heads of departments and educational institutions had the authority to hoist the Tricolour.