THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political row between the LDF government and the Governor intensified on Thursday after General Education Minister V. Sivankutty walked out of an event at Raj Bhavan, protesting the display of an image depicting “Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag”. The Governor’s office condemned the walkout, calling it a “gross violation of protocol”.
Sivankutty exited the function attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar after delivering a prepared speech sharply criticising the use of the image, which is reportedly associated with RSS events, at a government function. Reacting with “utmost concern”, Raj Bhavan issued a strongly worded statement calling the minister’s action “a grave insult to the office of the Governor”.
The controversy came a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned against reducing the dignity of Raj Bhavan to that of an “RSS shakha”.
At a subsequent press conference, Sivankutty denounced the presence of religious symbols at official events and accused the Governor of acting in an “arrogant” manner. He further questioned whether the Sangh Parivar’s interpretation of Bharat Mata recognises the nation’s constitutional borders.
“Our republic was born from a conscious decision to affirm a pluralistic, federal, and secular identity. Portraying a woman holding a saffron flag as the sole symbol of Indian patriotism ignores this fundamental reality,” he said.
Raj Bhavan’s response was scathing. “The minister in charge of the education portfolio has set an unprecedentedly wrong example through his misconduct. Notably, he came with a prepared speech, suggesting he was premeditating a confrontation,” the statement said.
It added that the minister's “performance” took place in front of disciplined Scouts and Guides who had gathered to receive awards from both the minister and the Governor.
Raj Bhavan further alleged that the minister had “insulted the students” and “set a poor example”. However, Sivankutty rejected the charge. “It was not a breach of protocol, but a legitimate protest aimed at upholding constitutional values,” he said. He added that his actions reflected the commitment of the Kerala government to secularism and constitutional integrity.
Later, while addressing students during the Kerala State Bharat Scouts and Guides Rajya Puraskar award ceremony, Governor Arlekar responded to the controversy:
“There is no question of doing away with Bharat Mata. I need not teach you anything. Compared to certain politicians, you are far, far, far ahead. You know who Bharat Mata is, what she stands for, and what we are meant to be,” he said.
Earlier this month, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad had also stayed away from an event at Raj Bhavan over the display of the same image.