logo
Bharat Mata row: Kerala Raj Bhavan slams Minister Sivankutty's walkout as 'grave insult' to Governor

Bharat Mata row: Kerala Raj Bhavan slams Minister Sivankutty's walkout as 'grave insult' to Governor

Hindustan Times19-06-2025
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's Raj Bhavan on Thursday strongly criticised General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a public event while Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was present on the dais, calling it a "serious breach of protocol and a grave insult to the constitutional office of the Governor."
The Raj Bhavan issued the statement hours after Sivankutty walked out of a state government event at Raj Bhavan, protesting against the display of a 'Bharat Mata' image, based on a claim that it was widely used in RSS functions, during the programme.
In a strongly worded statement, Raj Bhavan said the Governor, as the constitutional head of the state, deserves the highest respect from elected representatives, especially ministers who are sworn in by the Governor with an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.
"The walkout staged by the State Minister for Education & Labour, Shri V Sivankutty, from the dais this morning while the Hon'ble Governor was present, is a gross violation of protocol and a grave insult to the office of the Governor," the statement said.
According to it, the minister exited the stage without informing the Governor.
"The Minister is sworn in by the Governor, declaring allegiance to the Constitution, has by this public display of misconduct, openly insulted the Governor personally, besides the office of the Governor. The Minister did not even bother to inform the Governor about his abrupt exit," the statement said.
The Raj Bhavan said as per protocol, even members of the audience are expected to remain seated until the Governor leaves.
"Unfortunately, the Minister who handles the Education portfolio has set an unprecedentedly wrong precedent by his misconduct," it said.
The Raj Bhavan noted that the Minister had arrived at the event with a prepared speech, suggesting that the walkout may have been pre-planned.
The statement also referred to a remark made by the Minister during his speech, where he admitted he did not recognise the portrait of Bharatamba on the stage.
"It is a pity that the Education Minister of the state admitted to the audience that the portrait of Bharatamba is not familiar to him," it said.
The incident took place in front of a gathering of Scouts and Guides who had come to receive awards from both the Minister and the Governor. Raj Bhavan said the Minister's actions had not only disrespected the Governor but also sent a poor message to the students present.
"Disturbingly, the 'performance' of the Minister was right in front of the disciplined Scouts and Guides who had come to receive the awards from the Minister and the Governor. Thereby, the Minister has insulted the students as well, apart from setting a wrong model before the students," it said.
Rajbhavan said it "views today's developments with utmost concern."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SC sets August 12 hearing in Bihar voter list case, warns against mass exclusion of voters
SC sets August 12 hearing in Bihar voter list case, warns against mass exclusion of voters

United News of India

time41 minutes ago

  • United News of India

SC sets August 12 hearing in Bihar voter list case, warns against mass exclusion of voters

New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court today scheduled a detailed hearing on August 12 on a batch of petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar, cautioning that 'if there is any mass exclusion, then the Court will step in.' A bench led by Justice Surya Kant took up multiple pleas filed under Article 32 of the Constitution against the ECI's June 24, 2025 directive, which initiated a state-wide revision of the voter list ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The exercise is expected to impact over 4.5 crore voters. While the Court refrained from passing any immediate orders, it directed the Election Commission to submit the complete schedule and timeline for the revision by 10:30 AM on July 30, noting the magnitude and potential consequences of the exercise. "The Court will intervene if large-scale exclusion occurs", Justice Kant said. Responding to concerns raised by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Justice Kant assured the petitioners that the Court was closely monitoring the process. 'They do have the right to object. Who said they don't? The moment there is any deviation from the notification, we will intervene,' he said. Justice Kant emphasised: 'If there is any mass exclusion, then the Court will step in.' Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that out of 65 lakh people, a large majority may be wrongly categorized as deceased or ineligible. Sibal added, 'We don't know who has been left out. Give us a timeline.' In response, Justice Kant said, 'We are extending the time to three hours.' When Sibal requested more time for arguments — 'One day for us, one day for them' Justice Kant replied, 'That is not possible. You know the art of precision. No need for repetition by counsels. A practical way is one day for petitioners, one day for the ECI.' In its affidavit, the Election Commission defended its June 24 order, stating that the SIR aims to enhance electoral integrity by removing ineligible persons. It highlighted that all major political parties were part of the process, having deployed over 1.5 lakh booth-level agents to assist eligible voters. The Commission argued that eligibility to vote flows from Article 326 and is governed by Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Section 62 of the 1951 Act. It added that ineligible persons cannot claim voting rights under Articles 19 or 21. However, the lead petitioner, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), warned that the SIR process grants unchecked powers to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), potentially resulting in widespread disenfranchisement. ADR criticised the exclusion of Aadhaar and ration cards from acceptable documentation in the enumeration process, calling it 'patently absurd' and lacking justification. It alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were signing enumeration forms on behalf of voters, and in some cases, deceased individuals were marked as having verified their details. The NGO also alleged that many voters' details were uploaded online without their knowledge or consent, further undermining the legitimacy of the process. Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, a petitioner, submitted that BLOs allegedly did not visit certain neighborhoods and forged signatures on voter forms. He also expressed concern that the requirement for documentary proof of citizenship marks a significant and abrupt departure from past practices. Activist Yogendra Yadav warned that nearly four million voters could be at risk of losing their voting rights under the current SIR mechanism. The Special Intensive Revision is Bihar's first such exercise since 2003, and it covers over seven crore voters. BLOs have been tasked with door-to-door verification, aided by pre-filled enumeration forms. Citizens may also verify their information online. The draft rolls are scheduled to be released on August 1, 2025. Earlier, a vacation bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia had directed the ECI to accept Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as valid identity proofs and allowed the ongoing process to continue, pending further orders. Despite claims by the ECI that the revision was based on concerns raised by political parties, the petitioners contend that no major party demanded a complete overhaul of the rolls. Rather, the concerns centred on fictitious entries and wrongful deletions, particularly of opposition voters. The Supreme Court will now hear detailed submissions from both sides on August 12, with the focus on the constitutional validity of the SIR process and its impact on the right to vote, a fundamental facet of Indian democracy. UNI SNG RN

‘Systematic persecution of minorities': Rahul Gandhi questions arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh
‘Systematic persecution of minorities': Rahul Gandhi questions arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Scroll.in

timean hour ago

  • Scroll.in

‘Systematic persecution of minorities': Rahul Gandhi questions arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the arrest of two nuns from Kerala at the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh reflected a ' dangerous pattern ' of 'systematic persecution of minorities' under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. The nuns and a man were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of human trafficking and religious conversion. Gandhi said that they had been 'targeted for their faith'. 'This is not justice, it is BJP-RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] mob rule,' Gandhi said in a social media post. 'Religious freedom is a constitutional right. We demand their immediate release and accountability for this injustice.' However, BJP leader Sanjay Shrivastava dismissed Gandhi's statement as ' pressure politics '. 'This country has a constitution, laws and rules,' The Indian Express quoted Shrivastava as saying. 'If he thinks someone has gone against the Constitution then he should approach the court. If anyone violates the conversion law then stringent action will be taken.' On Monday, MPs from Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front and Opposition United Democratic Front held a joint protest outside Parliament, denouncing the 'minority-hate-fuelled' arrest of the nuns on 'trumped-up' charges. The nuns – Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis – are members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, a congregation under the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district's Cherthala town and were working at a hospital in Agra. The two nuns and the man, identified as Sukhman Mandavi, were accompanying three women from Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. Sebastian Poomattam, vicar general of the Raipur Archdiocese said that the nuns were taking the women to Agra, where they had been offered jobs of kitchen helpers at a convent. The nuns and Mandavi were remanded to judicial custody till August 8. They were charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to human trafficking and sections of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act. Commenting on the arrests, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India alleged that a ' false ' case had been filed against the nuns under the influence of Hindutva groups, Onmanorama reported. The bishops' conference sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the matter.

‘Mob rule going on': What Shashi Tharoor said on arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh
‘Mob rule going on': What Shashi Tharoor said on arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘Mob rule going on': What Shashi Tharoor said on arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday questioned the arrest of two Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of trafficking and religious conversion, alleging that innocent people were being jailed while the real culprits were being let off. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Sansad TV) 'It seems to me that mob rule is going on, where innocent people are being thrown in jail for no fault of theirs. They should be released without any delay, and they (government) should arrest the goons and not the nuns,' he said. Two nuns, Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with a third person, Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested from Durg railway station on July 25 after a local Bajrang Dal functionary filed a complaint accusing them of trafficking and forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur. Amid widespread protests in Kerala by both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF over the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that they were jailed because of their faith and said it reflected 'a dangerous pattern' of minority persecution under BJP rule. 'Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith – this isn't justice, it's BJP-RSS mob rule. It reflects a dangerous pattern: systematic persecution of minorities under this regime,' Gandhi said in a post on X. He further demanded their immediate release and accountability for what he called an injustice. 'UDF MPs protested in Parliament today. We will not be silent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right. We demand their immediate release and accountability for this injustice,' said the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Responding to the allegations, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai backed the police action and said the matter involved the safety of women. 'Three daughters of Narayanpur were promised nursing training followed by jobs. A person from Narayanpur handed them over to two nuns at Durg station, who were taking the daughters to Agra. An attempt was being made to convert them by human trafficking by luring them,' Sai said in a post on X. 'This is a serious matter related to the safety of women. The investigation is still ongoing in this matter. The case is sub-judice, and the law will take its own course. Chhattisgarh is a peace-loving state where people of all religions and communities live in harmony. It is very unfortunate to politicise the issue related to the safety of our daughters of Bastar,' he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store