'Which Bharat Mata? This is clearly an effort at saffronization'; stand taken by minister Prasad is absolutely correct, says MV Govndan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan has responded to the controversy surrounding the Environment Day celebration held at the Raj Bhavan. He stated that the image used at the event was based on the specific agenda of the RSS and described it as an attempt to saffronize the state.

Questioning the depiction of Bharat Mata, he said that the term does not represent any official emblem or recognised form.

“This is clearly an effort at saffronization. This is not even an image that represents India. I'm saying this very consciously. There is no need to insist on using it as part of a government event. The stand taken by the minister is absolutely correct, and I congratulate him for it. He took a dignified stand as part of a secular society. The message of the government is one of secularism. We will not yield to any communal pressure,” M.V. Govindan said.

The controversy arose when an image of Bharat Mata, in a style commonly associated with the RSS, was displayed on stage at the Environment Day program at Raj Bhavan. In protest, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad boycotted the event. Although the Agriculture Department had requested that the image be removed, Governor Rajendra Arlekar refused to comply. Following this, the minister chose to boycott the function.

The state-level inauguration of Environment Day celebrations was scheduled to be held at the Raj Bhavan. The event was organised in the main hall of the Governor's residence. When officials from the Agriculture Department arrived to assess preparations, they noticed the image of Bharat Mata displayed in the hall. The image had been installed after Governor Rajendra Arlekar assumed office. On the morning of the event, officials formally requested its removal, but the Governor declined. As a result, the Agriculture Department announced its decision to skip the event.