Kerala News: The state government boycotted the program due to a picture of Bharat Mata to be commonly placed in RSS branches at a program organized on Thursday (5 June 2025) at Raj Bhavan in Kerala. On this entire controversy, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that no compromise will be made on the issue of Bharat Mata.
‘Use of photo related to RSS branches unconstitutional’
Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad, who boycotted the program, said that the state government respects Bharat Mata, but using a picture related to RSS branches for the official ceremony in Raj Bhavan is unconstitutional. Despite the dispute, the program was organized at Raj Bhavan while the state government organized a separate program on World Environment Day in the Durbar Hall of the Secretariat.
India will not compromise on Mata- Governor of Kerala
In a statement issued by Raj Bhavan, the Governor said, “No matter how much pressure there is, no compromise will be made on Mother India.” The statement citing the Governor’s speech at Raj Bhavan during the World Environment Day celebrations said that the Agriculture Minister initially requested that the program be held in Raj Bhavan.
Minister boycotted the program
It said, “The Governor had gladly allowed. However, when the minister insisted on removing the picture of Bharat Mata on the stage, the Governor had to reject this request. After this, the minister boycotted the program. According to the statement, “He was expected to attend the environment day celebrations not only in the morning session but also in the evening at Raj Bhavan, but unfortunately, he avoided both of them.”
‘The agenda of the program was prepared from Raj Bhavan’
In a statement issued by Raj Bhavan, it was said that the Governor said that since time immemorial, there has been a tradition of worship and conservation of trees, water and air in India. It said, “He said that some current suits are demanding to abandon this tradition.” Arlekar emphasized that real environmental protection is possible only by maintaining our traditions and living life accordingly.
P Prasad said that the agenda of the program was prepared on behalf of Raj Bhavan and he had accepted it. He said, “On Wednesday (4 June 2025), he suddenly added a new thing – to pay floral tributes on the picture of Bharat Mata. It is against constitutional criteria and that picture is widely used by the RSS.”
Such a picture should not be used- Kerala government
He said that Raj Bhavan, which is a constitutional office, should not use a picture that is used only by a particular organization. Minister P Prasad said, “So we changed the location of the program and organized it in the Durbar Hall inside the Secretariat.”
Officials said that the change was done at the last minute on behalf of Raj Bhavan, due to which the Agriculture Department had to organize the function at another place. The Environment Day celebrations of the Agriculture Department were held on Thursday at 11 am in the Secretariat campus.
Congress criticized Raj Bhavan in this case
On this entire development, the RSS -linked organization Indian Vichar Center strongly supported the Governor’s stand while the ruling Marxist Communist Party (CPI -M) and the opposition Congress criticized the Raj Bhavan in the matter. In a statement, the Indian Idea Center questioned how the performance of Bharat Mata’s picture in this program can be considered unconstitutional.
It states that the idea of ​​Mother India is a symbol of the civilization of the nation and not only the image of stones, soil, trees and rivers. Quoting Shri Arvind, it says that Mother India is considered to be a form of supreme power (Parashakti). Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly VD Satishan said that it is not right to keep a picture of Bharat Mata in Raj Bhavan.
CPI (M) State Secretary MV Govindan criticized the use of a controversial picture during a government program, saying that it is widely seen as a symbol of communalism and has no official status.