Bharat Mata portrait sparks rift between Governor and state government; minister Prasad cancels event at Raj Bhavan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A dispute over the display of Bharat Mata's portrait at an Environment Day celebration organised by the Agriculture Department at the Raj Bhavan has strained the relationship between the state government and the Governor.

The controversy erupted when Agriculture Minister P. Prasad requested the Governor’s secretary to remove the portrait and floral tribute from the venue. The response from the Raj Bhavan was firm—such decisions rested solely with the Governor, and the request was denied.

Unwilling to relent, the Minister, with the Chief Minister’s approval, cancelled the original event and organised an alternative celebration at the Secretariat’s Durbar Hall. In response, the Governor proceeded with the Environment Day function at the original venue and adopted a more assertive stance.

Minister P. Prasad said the event was shifted because there was a demand to conduct a floral tribute in front of a portrait associated solely with the RSS. In contrast, Governor R.V. Arlekar countered, saying Bharat Mata symbolised the nation and that no pressure would deter him from honouring her. He described the minister’s actions as unfortunate and released photographs showing floral tributes before the portrait. The minister did not attend another event at the Raj Bhavan later that evening. Speaking at that event, the Governor said the image would remain at Raj Bhavan, declaring that Bharat Mata represented the nation.

Chief Minister’s position:
Minister P Prasad had initially written to the Governor on May 26 requesting to hold the Environment Day function at Raj Bhavan. However, Raj Bhavan independently altered the program schedule to include lighting of the lamp and floral tributes in front of the image. On Wednesday evening, the Minister’s personal staff and Agriculture Department officials visited the venue and found the portrait of Bharat Mata displayed. They photographed it and sent it to the Minister.

When the Governor refused to remove the portrait, Minister Prasad contacted the Chief Minister, who was in Delhi. When the minister informed the Chief Minister of the situation, the CM responded, “If this is your stand, then don’t go.” After consulting CPI leaders, the decision was made to skip the event. The Raj Bhavan was informed of the cancellation the same night, and preparations for the alternate venue began immediately. A formal letter was sent the following morning.

“It is not appropriate to place a portrait used exclusively by the RSS at a constitutional institution. Such imagery has not been used in official government events so far. It wasn’t a map of India. How can this be displayed in an official function? Raj Bhavan never had this image before. It was introduced after the current Governor assumed office. We have no objection to a commonly accepted image of Bharat Mata. But it’s dangerous if Raj Bhavan is being influenced by external forces.”

- P Prasad, Agriculture Minister

“These are symbols of the country we live in. They cannot be avoided. Perhaps that’s why the Minister chose not to attend. I don’t understand what kind of thinking this is. I don’t know what issue could be more important than the environment. It's unfortunate. Some ‘isms’ are now demanding we abandon our tradition of revering trees, water, and air.”
- RV Arlekar, Governor