THRISSUR: The Paramekkavu section of Thrissur Pooram withdrew its 'Azadi' umbrellas following the controversy over the inclusion of Savarkar's picture in it. The picture of RSS founder VD Savarkar was included along with the picture of freedom fighters and social reformers. At the same time, the fact that the picture of Sree Narayana Guru was not there among the portraits of Gandhiji, Vivekananda, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mannath Padmanabhan and Chattambiswamy sparked another discussion.

The controversy over Savarkar's picture first erupted on social media. There are indications that Ministers K Radhakrishnan and K Rajan have directly informed their discontent to the Devaswoms. Youth Congress and AISF leaders also protested. The district committee of the Progressive Art Literary Group demanded that the umbrellas shouldn't be used.

'Azadi' umbrella was launched by Suresh Gopi who inaugurated the Paramekavu section's 'chamaya pradarshanam'. Paramekavu section explained that the umbrellas consisted of pictures of leaders in the list released by the central government in connection with the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.