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4mo ago

Kerala Governor Upholds Display of RSS-Linked Bharat Mata Portrait as LDF Parties Push Back

Retaining the portrait led the agriculture minister to relocate an environment event, spurring CPI leaders to hoist the national flag, plant saplings in protest

File Photo: X/@KeralaGovernor
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar is standing at a podium, delivering a speech. He is wearing a beige kurta with a light gray Nehru jacket. A microphone is positioned in front of him, and he is making a gesture with his right hand. On his jacket, there is a badge that reads "SAY NO TO DRUGS." The background features beige blinds, and a security personnel member is partially visible behind him.
Image

Overview

  • On June 5, the state agriculture minister boycotted a World Environment Day function at Raj Bhavan after officials flagged a Bharat Mata portrait resembling an RSS image
  • The function was moved to the Durbar Hall in the state secretariat when Governor Arlekar refused to remove the portrait
  • Governor Arlekar has insisted the image cannot be kept away and described the concept of Bharat Mata as beyond political debate
  • On June 8, CPI activists hoisted the national flag and planted saplings outside Raj Bhavan to denounce what they called an unconstitutional depiction of Bharat Mata
  • CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan challenged the portrait’s validity by noting that ‘Bharat Mata’ is not in the Constitution and the CPI has declined to discuss the matter with its LDF ally