Kerala Issues Circular Banning RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat From Hoisting Flag In School On Republic Day, BJP Says Will Go Ahead

In a rerun of the last August 15 controversy, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat plans to unfurl the tricolour at a school in Palakkad on the Republic Day defying state government's order that allows only the head of the institution to hoist the national flag on January 26.

The circular issued by the state says department or office heads can hoist the flag in schools, colleges and health institutions after the Governor hoists the tricolour first at 8.30 am.

Last year on August, Bhagwat during a two-day visit hoisted flag in a government-aided Palakkad school defied orders of the district collector on Independence Day. The Collector had recommended action against the school principal who let RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat hoist the national flag violating the state government rules.

However, the RSS has dismissed the circular and is set to go ahead with Bhagwat's programme at the school, reported News 18. Bhagwat will be in Kerala to attend a three-day Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) camp, to be held in a school near Palakkad town from January 26.

“The state’s directive is not binding on the school as it does not come under the state. The Vyasa Vidya Peethom is a private school and follows CBSE curricullm,” said BJP’s Palakkad unit secretary E Krishnadas.

"The sarsanghchalakji (RSS chief) always hoists the national flag on Independence Day and Republic Day wherever he is on these days. Since on January 26 he will be in Kerala, he will hoist the flag there. It should only be seen in this light," a senior Sangh functionary had earlier said.

The RSS-BJP and the CPI(M) have been at loggerheads in Kerala, particularly its northern parts, after the Left Democratic Front came to power in the state last year.

The RSS-BJP combine has claimed that 14 of its members were killed by the Left cadres during the period, while the CPI(M) has alleged that 13 of workers lost their lives in violence perpetuated by the saffron organisations. Both sides have blamed each other for the "political killings".

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