The memo added that only "a teacher or elected representative of the people" can hoist the flag.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today unfurled the national flag at a government-aided school in Kerala's Palakkad district despite being told by authorities that political personalities were not permitted do this.

The Sangh chief was initially restrained from hoisting the tricolour by the Palakkad District Collector, who issued a memo saying, "Since the school is supported by the state, it is inappropriate for a political leader to hoist national flag in an aided school."

The memo, issued to the Karnakkiyamman School management, added that only "a teacher or elected representative of the people" can hoist the flag.

The BJP, which calls the RSS its ideological mentor, had challenged the Collector's direction, and insisted that Bhagwat will hoist the tricolour.

The school belongs to RSS supporters and they had invited Bhagwat to be the chief guest on India's 71st Independence Day.

The BJP and the RSS have been trying to make inroads into Kerala - primarily a two-party state - for a long time. The continuing violence between the RSS and the Left cadres in the state has been the outcome of the right-wing group's assertion in the southern state.

Interestingly, the RSS itself hoisted the national flag at its Nagpur headquarters for the first time in 2002.

ALSO READ | Kerala CPM using social boycott as tool to target RSS in Left strongholds

ALSO READ | Kerala: How cult of political violence became new normal in God's own country

ALSO READ | Arun Jaitley condemns RSS man's murder in Kerala, says even enemy of India not this barbaric

WATCH VIDEO | Left vs Right in Kerala: RSS chief Bhagwat unfurls tricolour in Palakkad school