Kerala CM letter to Raj Bhavan over Bharat Mata issue welcome, but 'delayed': Satheesan

Thiruvananthapuram | Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, on Thursday welcomed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's reported move of sending a letter to Raj Bhavan against the display of the Bharat Mata portrait, but said that it was "delayed".

Satheesan also said that neither the Raj Bhavan nor the official programmes of the Governor should be turned into a venue for political and religious campaigns.

Regarding the tense atmosphere that prevailed a day ago at the Kerala University Senate campus over the display of the Bharat Mata portrait, usually seen in RSS events, at a private function there, the opposition leader alleged that it was an attempt by the Sangh Parivar to create "communal polarisation".

He also said that Kerala should not be "dragged" into such conflicts.

Tension prevailed at the Kerala University Senate campus here for hours on Wednesday with SFI activists clashing with police and staging a huge protest over the display of the Bharat Mata portrait as part of a private function attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Satheesan said that Arlekar may have his political leanings and he can continue as an RSS activist if he wants to, but when he is holding a constitutional position, he cannot "safeguard" his political and religious interests.

He said that the CM and the state government were obligated to tell the Governor and "those behind him" that Kerala is a secular state.

"The CM was silent till now. It is good he gave it (letter) now. But it was delayed," the opposition leader said while speaking to reporters here.

He also said that the Governor only has official programmes and therefore, they should not be turned into a venue for religious and political campaigns.

Satheesan alleged that while the Congress-led UDF opposition was trying to create political polarisation, the Sangh Parivar was attempting for "communal polarisation".

"It is all part of a hate campaign to divide people," he claimed and urged the state government and the CPI(M) not to follow the Sangh Parivar narrative.

He said that the Raj Bhavan should be informed that such acts should not be repeated.

Satheesan also said that if the government takes such a stand, it will have the support of the opposition as well on the issue.

The Bharat Mata controversy began in the state when the Governor displayed the Bharat Mata portrait, usually seen in RSS events, at an Environment Day programme at the Raj Bhavan earlier this month.

It had led to the state Agriculture Minister P Prasad boycotting the event and the Governor asserting that there will be no "compromise" on the issue of Bharat Mata.

Since then, Arlekar has displayed the portrait in all events held at the Raj Bhavan, including one to give certificates to scouts and guides, leading to state General Education Minister V Sivankutty walking out of one of them recently.

Subsequently, the CM and several of the ministers have said that only official or authorised symbols or emblems or portraits can be used in government programmes.