Thiruvananthapuram: Tensions between Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the state’s Left government escalated on Thursday after General Education Minister V Sivankutty walked out of a Raj Bhavan event in protest at the display of a Bharat Mata portrait, an image often associated with RSS functions.
Raj Bhavan strongly criticised Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of the programme, organised to distribute ‘Scout and Guide Certificates’ for school students, while Arlekar was present on the dais, calling it a “serious breach of protocol and a grave insult to the constitutional office of the Governor.”
Under attack from Raj Bhavan, the minister hit back at the Governor, alleging that Arlekar had violated the Constitution by turning an official function at his residence into a political event.
Amid mounting criticism from the Left government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, over the use of a saffron-clad image at official functions, the Governor firmly stated: “There is no question of doing away with Bharat Mata, as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood from Bharat Mata.”
The new development comes close on the heels of another boycott by another minister in Raj Bhavan over the display of the Bharat Mata image, which indeed set off the controversy.
Recently, State Agriculture Minister P Prasad boycotted an Environment Day programme organised at the Raj Bhavan, objecting to the display of the saffron-clad Bharat Mata image. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan remarked that the Governor’s office should not be used to promote the ideological agenda of the RSS.
Giving details of what happened at the ‘Scout and Guide Certificate’ distribution programme for schoolchildren, Sivankutty said that when he reached the Raj Bhavan after attending another event with the Chief Minister, he saw a Bharat Mata portrait with a saffron flag on the stage, and that floral tributes were being offered and a lamp was being lit in front of it.
“What happened at the event shows arrogance,” he said.
As the event commenced and he was invited to deliver the presidential address, he strongly protested against the display of the portrait in an official government programme and walked out from there, Sivankutty told reporters here.
“I told the Governor, during my speech, that it was a state government programme being conducted jointly by the Raj Bhavan and the state administration. The Bharat Mata portrait displayed here is that of a political organisation. Lighting a lamp before it was not correct, as it is an official programme.
“I strongly protest against this. The Kerala government’s stand on it has already been conveyed by the CM a day ago. If a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi or the Prime Minister were displayed, it would have been prestigious. Instead, Raj Bhavan has been turned into a political centre,” he said.
Sivankutty said that after conveying his protest, he walked out of the event. Raj Bhavan issued a strongly worded statement condemning Sivankutty’s action.
It said the Governor, as the constitutional head of the state, deserves the highest respect from elected representatives, especially ministers who are sworn in by the Governor with an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.
“The walkout staged by the State Minister for Education & Labour, Shri V Sivankutty, from the dais this morning while the Hon’ble Governor was present, is a gross violation of protocol and a grave insult to the office of the Governor,” the statement said.
According to Raj Bhavan, the minister exited the stage without informing the Governor.
“The Minister, sworn in by the Governor, declaring allegiance to the Constitution, has by this public display of misconduct, openly insulted the Governor personally, besides the office of the Governor. The Minister did not even bother to inform the Governor about his abrupt exit,” the statement said.
Raj Bhavan said the Minister’s actions had not only disrespected the Governor but also sent a poor message to the students present.
“Today’s developments are viewed with utmost concern,” the statement concluded.
Hitting back at Arlekar, Minister Sivankutty said that by allowing such an image to be used as part of a ceremonial act during a government programme, the Governor insulted the Constitution.
“It was the Governor who embarrassed himself in front of students. As the constitutional head of the state, he should never have acted in this manner,” Sivankutty said in a statement.
He also questioned the Bharat Mata concept itself, asking: “Does this idea respect the actual borders of India? Is it even mentioned anywhere in the Constitution? What is greater –the Constitution or the image of a saffron-clad woman holding a flag?”
Sivankutty, while talking to the media, also claimed that there was no mention about the portrait being displayed at the event in the programme schedule.
“We cannot allow Raj Bhavan to be turned into an RSS centre. This Governor has taken a political stand which is much worse than that of former Governors,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said that had the government indicated its strong protest right after the first incident, “it would not have been repeated again”.
He claimed that the CM reacted very late to the incident.
“Since the government did not indicate its protest earlier, it was repeated. So, no point in putting up such shows now. The government needs to indicate its protest to the Governor and not the media,” he said, referring to Sivankutty’s walkout.
