PALAKKAD: The district administration has found ‘serious irregularities’ in the conduct of Independence Day celebration by the Karnaki Amman Higher Secondary School in Vadakkanthara.
In a report she submitted to the state government on Wednesday, District Collector P Marykutty has recommended action against the school authorities for defying the government’s directive which said a leader of any organisation cannot unfurl the Tricolour and speak to students. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had hoisted the national flag during the Independence Day celebrations at the school and had spoken to students. The district administration’s recommendation follows the submission of a fact-finding report submitted by the Palakkad tahsildar.
“I have submitted a report to the government recommending action against the school authorities for defying the government’s directive,” Marykutty told ‘Express’.“The school had been issued a notice in this regard. It chose to ignore it and went ahead with the celebration,” Marykutty said, referring to her August 14 order issued at 11 pm. It said: “It has come to the district administration’s notice some organisation leaders are unfurling the Tricolour at the school on August 15. The Education Department rules say the headmaster or headmistress of the school or elected representatives should unfurl the flag.
The school should strictly comply with the order.” The order was addressed to the school authorities, the district police chief, tahsildar, deputy tahsildar and the Deputy Director of Education.Marykutty told ‘Express’ another irregularity found was instead of singing the national anthem after immediately unfurling the flag as is the norm, the students sung ‘Vande Mataram’. The national anthem was sung at the fag end of the session after the meet dispersed. It reassembled immediately as an afterthought, Marykutty said.
Post official celebrations, the school authorities unfurled a second national flag inside the school at 10.45 am. The national anthem was not sung then, Marykutty said. The police have videographed the entire celebration.Meanwhile, after the celebration on August 15, management committee member of the Karnaki Amman Education Trust U Kailas Mani told reporters there was no violation of law or any politics involved in the flag-hoisting.“Flag-hoisting is an occasion to rejoice and feel proud of India’s independence. There is no violation of law or politics in it. The Independence Day celebration has to be taken in the spirit of inclusiveness,” he told reporters. Bhagwat had refrained from commenting and told reporters it was up to the school authorities to speak on the matter.
Bhagwat’s speech
On August 15, the RSS chief arrived at the school at exactly five minutes to 9 am, went straight to the flag mast, unfurled the Tricolour and walked to the stage. ‘Vande matram’ was sung then.
In his address, Bhagwat did not touch upon politics, focusing instead on the significance of the Tricolour and the ‘dharma chakra’ in the middle. “The colour saffron has been sacred from time immemorial and white denotes peace. India achieved Independence due to the efforts of a large number of individuals and organisations from 1857 to 1947. The ‘dharma chakra’ exhorts Indians to follow the right path,” Bhagwat said.
He said US, China and Russia have become superpowers to protect their vested, selfish interests. “But India, as the white colour denotes, wants peace and has always strived for it,” he said. The celebration signed off with the singing of the national anthem.Management committee representative Gangadharan had welcomed the gathering and said the Karnaki Amman School ground was where first ‘shaka’ in Kerala was held in 1965. He said former Prime Minister A B Vajapayee had visited the school and taken part in RSS celebrations. Gangadharan said he had extended Bhagwat an invitation to visit the school a year ago which he fulfilled now.
No action against Mohan Bhagwat
Palakkad: District Collector P Marykutty said no action has been planned against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as he had not been issued any notice or directive for not hoisting a flag in the school.“Irregularities in the conduct of the Independence Day celebration were committed by the school management,” she said. District police chief Pradheesh Kumar told ‘Express’ the police have not registered any case in the incident. “The police are only examining the facts. Any action will be taken only by the District Collector,” he said.