Kerala minister boycotts occasion over Bharat Mata picture

The row comes days after each the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) criticised the presence of RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy at an occasion associated to Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border anti-terror strikes final month, on the governor’s home.

Prasad mentioned the plantation programme schedule was modified on Wednesday with the addition of the floral tributes. “Such a ritual has never been part of official events at the Raj Bhawan [governor’s house]…,” mentioned Prasad, who planted saplings individually after skipping the Raj Bhawan occasion.

Prasad, a Communist Party of India (CPI) chief, mentioned they informed the officers that such a portrait should not be used at a authorities occasion, particularly in a constitutional workplace. “It is against the Constitution. The governor’s office insisted on it. We are not against Bharat Mata…we often have children dressing up as Bharat Mata at government events and official Onam celebrations,” mentioned Prasad.

CPI chief Binoy Viswam, too, criticised the Raj Bhawan for utilizing the {photograph} of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag for the occasion. “Will the photograph of Bharat Mata be complete only if she holds the RSS flag? Will it be complete only if she stands by a lion? The Raj Bhawan should never have become a platform for such adamant stands of the RSS,” Viswam mentioned.

Opposition Congress chief VD Satheesan echoed Viswam. “Raj Bhawan should never become a stage for such events and actions. It is the office of the head of state. We raised the issue when Gurumurthy was invited to the governor’s house,” he mentioned, including the Raj Bhawan ought to have invited defence consultants and former ambassadors to the occasion.

Responding to the row, BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan mentioned, “I do not understand why Prasad or CPI leaders are reacting this way. The photograph of Bharat Mata should not be seen as a religious symbol.”

Governor Rajendra Arlekar, reacting to the controversy, mentioned his workplace can’t take away the picture of Bharat Mata.

“I was told that a minister wanted the photo of Bharat Mata removed from the dais. I said we will do everything possible but we cannot remove (the photo of ) Bharat Mata. These are ideals for which we are living and we cannot do away with these. That was probably the reason why both ministers have not come here. I don’t know what sort of thinking we have in our minds.”