Bharatamba's picture at event attended by Governor at University of Kerala: SFI, KSU, DYFI protest in Senate Hall

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Protests after a picture of Bharatamba carrying a saffron flag was placed at an event attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar. The picture of Bharatamba was placed at a private function organized at the Senate Hall of the University of Kerala. Following this, SFI, KSU and DYFI activists came out to protest.

The Governor was supposed to inaugurate the program organized by the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samiti in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. SFI, DYFI, and KSU activists protested demanding the removal of the picture. They were removed by the police. There was a clash outside and inside the Senate Hall. The program began after the KSU activists who pushed into the hall were expelled.

Kerala University Registrar KS Anilkumar and SFI had demanded that the picture be removed. SFI's stance was that it would not agree to hold the program without removing the picture. However, the Raj Bhavan informed that the Governor would not attend the program if the picture was removed. The program was scheduled for 5:30 pm on Wednesday. A large police deployment was made at the place in view of the possibility of conflict. SFI activists and BJP leaders were also stationed in the area. The organizers of the program said that the picture of Bharatamba would not be removed. SFI state secretary Sanjeev said that there will be protests when the governor comes out after the event.