KOLLAM: Sasthamcotta police booked 24 RSS members for decorating an Athapookalam (floral carpet) with the words Operation Sindoor. It is reported that a saffron flag resembling RSS was also included in the floral carpet, which made the police register a case.

Police moved ahead with the case based on the High Court directive that prohibited the use of political party slogans, flags, or symbols near temple premises. It was the members of the temple committee who first registered the complaint with the police.

BJP's National media in charge, Amit Malviya, on X:

"In Kerala’s Kollam district, police forced the removal of an Onam Pookalam simply because it carried the words “Operation Sindoor.”

This isn’t Pakistan. This is Kerala under Left rule, where even flowers with patriotic messages are treated as a threat.

All for appeasement of one section.

And yet, the same Left never misses a chance to lecture the nation on free speech. Hypocrisy at its peak!"

In the FIR, the use of the saffron flag in the floral carpet is mentioned, which is deemed to be against the directive of the High Court. A case was also registered for using symbols that could have incited riots. However, protests have also erupted over the police decision.

Last April, a music orchestra was booked for singing RSS Gana Geetham at a temple function in Kollam.