THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversy on naming RGCB after RSS ideologue M S Golwalkar has heightens to further levels. BJP leaders have justified the central government’s move. Union minister V. Muraleedharan also asked why a boat race in Kerala was named after Nehru?

“Many institutions bear the name of Indira Gandhi. Golwalkar was the Zoology professor at Benarus Hindu University. What makes his name ineligible for a scientific organisation? Communist leaders of Kerala were lodged in jail multiple times. There are many institutions in the state under their names. What is the problem if a patriot’s name is given to RGCB’s second campus,” Muraleedharan asked. He also added that the name was decided by RGCB’s governing body.

On Saturday, chief minister and opposition leader have written to the prime minister expressing dissent over the centre’s decision to name RGCB’s new campus after the former RSS chief. Even after registering fierce opposition, the centre has not informed its final decision over the issue. The issue which came up in the last phase of campaigning for local body polls is being used as a political weapon by BJP’s adversaries against it.