Kerala Govt poisoning state with divisive politics: RSS on flag-hoisting row

Palakkad: After action was initiated against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for defying the state government's order and raising the Tricolour at Pallakad's Karnakayamman Higher Secondary School on Tuesday, the RSS has issued a statement attacking the CPI (M)-led Kerala Government saying it was practicing divisive politics.

At the government-aided institution, only elected representatives or functionaries of the school are allowed to hoist the flag, but Bhagwat went ahead and hoisted the flag, after which the district collector initiated action against him.

"At 11 pm of 14th August 2017, the headmaster of the school received a notice from the District Collector stating that only the institutional heads or an elected representative can unfurl the national flag in the school. It is however, learned that no other school had been given similar information," said RSS Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya in a statement.

"After due consultations, the school authorities decided that they will proceed as planned and that Sarsanghchalakji must exercise his constitutional rights. Dr.Mohanji Bhagwat hoisted the flag along with other institutional heads of the school," the statement added.

Vaidya further condemned the 'brazen attempts' by the government of Kerala to deny the basic civil rights of celebrating Independence Day and the 'continuous attempts to poison the state of Kerala with divisive politics.'

CPI (M) and the RSS have been at war in Kerala, with several clashes often resulting in the deaths of cadres.