PALAKKAD: As police video graphed the proceedings, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat defied orders against political leaders unfurling the national flag at schools and did so at the Karnaki Amman School in Palakkad, Kerala on Tuesday.
Palakkad district collector P. Marykutty had released orders late Monday night stating that as per education department rules, only school authorities or elected reps can unfurl the national flag at schools. The collector ordered the district police chief, tahsildar, deputy tahsildar and deputy director of education to ensure compliance with the rule.
Mohan Bhagwat arrived at the RSS-run school a little before 9 am and went straight to the flag mast and unfurled the flag. In his speech to the students, he made no political references, sticking to the glory of the Tricolour and the Dharma Chakra emblem.
Karnaki Amman School is an RSS-run school that receives aid from the state government. It was at this school that the first RSS shakha in Kerala was held in 1965.
Mohan Bhagwat refused to make a comment on the incident as he walked out after the ceremony, stating that it was up to the school authorities to speak.
A school management committee member, Kailas Mani said there was no violation of the law in this year’s ceremony.
Collector P. Marykutty said she was too busy with I Day celebrations to comment on the incident.