Holiday granted in school on Ram Pratishtha day; minister Sivankutty orders investigation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has initiated an inquiry into the incident where a holiday was granted to the students of the Sri Gopalakrishna High School in Kudlu in Kasaragod in connection with Prana Pratishtha Day in Ayodhya. General Education Department Minister V Sivankutty has given instructions to conduct an investigation into the incident within 24 hours. He said that the holiday was announced in the school without any official instructions from the General Education Department.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the central government and the BJP for celebrating the Prana Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya as a national event. Speaking about the Prana Pratishta ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the inauguration of a religious centre was being celebrated as a national event.

"At present, the boundaries between religion and government are becoming smaller each day. We have reached the point where a religious ceremony is celebrated as an official event of the nation. Many of us were invited to the function. As those who have pledged to protect the Constitution, they may refrain from participating in such events and remain committed to its secular character. Constitutional responsibilities can be highlighted in this way," the Chief Minister said.