Bharat Mata is above caste and politics; Governor accuses Minister Sivankutty of violating protocol

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor R.V. Arlekar has formally responded to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s concerns regarding the use of Bharat Mata’s image at official Raj Bhavan events. In his reply, the Governor clarified that Bharat Mata does not represent any political ideology but embodies the spirit of national unity. He stated that the image is a symbol that rose from the hope of freedom and that it is above caste and politics. He also criticised General Education Minister V. Sivankutty’s decision to walk out of a Raj Bhavan event, calling it a violation of protocol.

The Chief Minister, in his earlier letter, had expressed concern over the portrayal of Bharat Mata holding saffron flags at government events, arguing that such imagery is inappropriate and deviates from the constitutionally accepted national symbols. He warned that using such symbols, often linked to specific ideological groups, could undermine the secular principles of governance. The state cabinet had authorised the Chief Minister to officially communicate the government's protest to the Governor.

The state government had earlier cancelled the Environment Day celebrations scheduled to be held at the Raj Bhavan, citing the use of Bharat Mata's image as the reason. Minister Sivankutty had also walked out of the Scouts and Guides award ceremony after observing the image displayed at the venue. Tensions over the same image had earlier sparked a dispute during a private event attended by the Governor at the Kerala University Senate Hall on Wednesday.