Latest news with #RajendraArlekar
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bharat Mata row: Kerala Cabinet urges governor to use only national flag, symbol for Raj Bhavan events
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Governor Rajendra Arlekar defended the display of the image of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag in events attended by him, the state cabinet has urged him to ensure that nothing other than the national flag and national symbol are displayed during official events conducted at the Raj Bhavan. Reminding the governor that displaying any other flag or symbol amounted to insulting the national flag and symbol, the cabinet urged him to issue the necessary directions to Raj Bhavan officials. In a letter to the governor, the state cabinet touched upon the circumstances leading to the adoption of the national flag and national symbol and the Constituent Assembly debates and a resolution on what the national flag should embody. The cabinet referred to the speeches made by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sarojini Naidu during the Constituent Assembly debates on the national flag. While Nehru had said that there were no communal or social considerations behind adoption of the tricolour as the national flag, Naidu had maintained that only the national flag should represent the country in public places or official programmes. Notably, the governor's letter to the chief minister on the issue had also mentioned the Constituent Assembly debates. 'When the Constituent Assembly adopted Vande Mataram as the National Song on January 24, 1950, the idea of Mother India received a constitutional mandate. The concept of Bharat Mata or Bharathamba evolved much before Independence and lives in the hearts of every Indian,' the governor had told the CM. Meanwhile, the controversy over the display of the image refused to die down. In the wake of the Raj Bhavan seeking a report on the incident, the VC has demanded an explanation from the registrar. On Thursday, the registrar urged the police to lodge a case against the organisers for continuing with the event even after permission for it was denied.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Governor Arlekar, Minister Prasad share stage, display respect and warmth
THRISSUR : For the first time after their tiff over the display of the 'RSS version' of the Bharat Mata at a government function in Raj Bhavan, Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Agriculture Minister P Prasad shared a stage in a cordial atmosphere on Thursday. Moreover, Arlekar was eloquent in praising the minister and the state government in promoting agriculture and contributing to India's development goals for 2047, at the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) convocation. The governor is the chancellor and the agriculture minister pro-chancellor of the KAU. The controversial image of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag was not displayed at the function. In his speech, Arlekar urged the youth to become job creators, and not job seekers. 'The government cannot provide jobs for everyone at all times. It is high time young minds thought about entrepreneurship,' he said. He also urged the university to actively promote its entrepreneurship development cell and startup schemes from both the state and central governments. Delivering the presidential address, Prasad urged the students to understand the importance of farming and farmers and work in collaboration with them. 'Work alongside farmers to ensure food security for all,' he said. KAU conferred honorary doctorates on Kadambot Siddique, professor at the University of Western Australia, and Paul Thomas, managing director and CEO of ESAF Small Finance Bank -- both alumni of the university. A total of 1,039 students graduated during the ceremony, including 70 doctoral degrees, 222 postgraduate degrees, 565 undergraduate degrees, and 65 diploma degrees.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bharat Mata row: CM Pinarayi to convey dissent to governor
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The standoff between the Left government and the governor over the Bharat Mata row is likely to escalate further as the state government has decided to formally convey its dissent to the Raj Bhavan. The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to send an official communication to Governor Rajendra Arlekar expressing a difference of opinion over using the image of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag, at official functions being held at Raj Bhavan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will write to the governor pointing out that only those images and symbols which are in line with the Constitution can be displayed at official functions. Displaying other images and symbols during official functions are not acceptable as per the Constitution, the chief minister will tell the governor. The cabinet has decided to look into the matter seriously and take it up with the governor. 'We cannot insist that it should not be displayed at private functions attended by the governor. But in official events —irrespective of whether it's being held at Raj Bhavan or not — no such symbols or images should be displayed,' said sources. The cabinet decision comes amidst the Opposition allegations that the state government has failed to convey its position to the Raj Bhavan. UDF had attacked the chief minister for his silence on the issue. Law Minister P Rajeeve told the media that the government has a declared position on the matter. 'Usually government official functions will have only the national flag, national anthem and other symbols/images approved by the Constitution. Deviating from this practice should be viewed as showing disrespect to national emblems. Naturally the same will be brought to the governor's attention,' said the minister.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
KU turns battle zone as Bharat Mata image at governor's event sparks protests
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The display of an image of Bharat Mata holding a saffron flag at an event attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar in Kerala University (KU) triggered massive protests by SFI and KSU activists on Wednesday, leading to a tense situation for nearly two hours at the varsity's senate house campus. The trouble began when the image, allegedly used by the RSS in its functions, was spotted at the Senate Hall, the venue of the event organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. The programme, scheduled to begin at 5.30pm, was organised by Sree Padmanaba Seva Samithi, a pro-right wing organisation and attended by BJP leaders, party workers and supporters. On being informed, KU Registrar K S Anil Kumar told the organisers that religious symbols could not be used in a programme held at the varsity. As organisers were reluctant to call off the programme, Anil told them in writing that the event had been cancelled for violating the terms and conditions for using the hall. By then, SFI workers gathered outside the hall in huge numbers, shouting slogans. Pro-left Syndicate members joined in. KSU workers also marched to the varsity and some attempted to enter the hall, leading to arguments and eventually fist fights with BJP supporters who were in the audience. The police soon intervened. Meanwhile, Arlekar informed the registrar he would be attending the event. Amid tight security, he arrived around 6.25pm and offered floral tributes before the image of Bharat Mata.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala to include lesson on Governor's powers in school syllabus
Amid growing friction between the Kerala government and Raj Bhavan, state general education minister V Sivankutty said a lesson on the constitutional powers and duties of Governors would soon be a part of the school curriculum. In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan(PTI) The announcement came just a day after Sivankutty walked out of an event at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram protesting against the display of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata', associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on the dais. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sivankutty said that the lesson explaining the constitutional rights and duties of Governors in India would be included in the second volume of social science textbooks for class 10 students this year. The chapter will be added to textbooks for students of classes 11 and 12 as part of curriculum revision as well, he added. 'Schools are the ideal place to learn the values of democracy. School curriculum is being revised while upholding constitutional values. In the country today, efforts to destabilise elected state governments through governors are rising. The Supreme Court has recently made it clear what the constitutional rights of governors are,' the minister said. His reference was to the Supreme Court's ruling on April 8 that set a timeline for Governors to clear state bills or refer them to the President. It also set a timeline for the President to clear them. The President has sought a Presidential Reference on the judgement. The court's ruling came after the state of Tamil Nadu approached it citing the alleged obstructionist behaviour of Governor R N Ravi. Several states governed by parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party have seen clashes between the elected government and the Governor, whose powers are limited under the Constitution. When asked if the decision had anything to do with the ongoing row with the Raj Bhavan over the use of the 'Bharat Mata' portrait, the minister replied, 'I strongly feel students must learn and understand the duties of governors. That's why we have decided to include the chapter. It is a part of constitution. It is true that governors are interfering a lot. Students must be taught the right things.' In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan -- especially when compared to the former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan -- has been locked in a tussle with the LDF government over the usage of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata' , showing a woman holding a saffron flag astride a lion at official events. The CM and ministers of the state government have argued that the portrait is associated with the RSS, the ideological fount of the BJP, and its display at official government events is inappropriate and violative of secular values. On Thursday, Sivankutty walked out in the middle of an event at the Raj Bhavan to honour scouts and guides after objecting to the display of the portrait. Later, he argued that Indian nationalism draws its strength from its diversity of languages, religions, regions, cultures etc. None of these can be contained within a narrow or unified image, he said. 'Calling the image of a woman carrying a saffron flag the sole symbol of Indian patriotism ignores this basic reality,' he added. Raj Bhavan issued a statement claiming that the minister's 'staged walkout' was a 'gross violation of protocol and a grave insult to the office of the Governor'. The Governor also said that there was 'no question of doing away with Bharat Mata as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood' from it. The office of the Governor said the minister's actions set a wrong precedent and that it viewed the developments with utmost concern. The row also spilled out onto the streets of Thiruvananthapuram with the SFI, student wing of CPI(M), taking a protest march to Raj Bhavan. In response, ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, displayed black flags as a convoy of the general education minister passed by.
