Collector Who Barred RSS Chief From Hoisting Tricolour Transferred

Bhagwat defied a restraining order and hoisted the tricolour at a government-aided school in a Palakkad.

File photo of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

(Photo: Reuters)

Kerala’s Palakkad District Collector P Marykutty, who issued a restraining order barring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat from unfurling the national flag at a school in the city, was transferred along with five other collectors on Thursday. Sources told ANI that it was a “routine transfer”.

Bhagwat on Independence Day hoisted the tricolour at a government-aided school, despite being told by authorities that political personalities were not permitted to do this.

Bhagwat defied the restraining order after the collector explained that either the headmaster of the school or the elected representative could hoist the national flag.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisting the national flag at a school in Palakkad.(Photo: ANI)

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The state BJP opposed and challenged this direction by the authorities. Bhagwat, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, ignored the Collector’s order and hoisted the flag.

The District Collector and police had told the Karnakeyamen School management near here that since the school was state-supported, political personalities could raise the flag.

She (Marykutty) acts as the Branch Secretary of CPI (M) that is why such a circular was sent at 11 pm on Monday night. It says only the headmaster can hoist the flag, There is no such rule. So no circular can be issued based on a rule which doesn’t exist. We are going ahead with the plan, why should we follow a rule which doesn’t exist.

E Krishnadas, BJP’s Palakkad District President to <a href="http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-restrained-hoisting-national-flag-kerala-school-66801">The News Minute</a>

The school allegedly belongs to RSS supporters and the school authorities said that they had invited Bhagwat to be the chief guest for the Independence Day function.

Palakkad Lok Sabha member and CPI-M leader MB Rajesh accused the RSS of trying to incite trouble in Kerala.

This is a brazen violation of the law of the land. This is a school funded and supported by the Kerala government. The rules and regulations have to be followed. On Tuesday, this did not happen.

MB Rajesh, CPI-M MP

Alappuzha Lok Sabha member and Congress leader KC Venugopal said the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party were implementing their hidden agenda.

But Kerala BJP General Secretary MT Ramesh told the media that the RSS chief was in Palakkad to attend a few functions.

Anyway, RSS is not a political party and Bhagwat is not a political leader.

MT Ramesh

VK Mani, a school official, said the school authorities had done no wrong.

The order is very clear on what can be done. We have abided by the rules. Let the government tell us whether we have violated any rule or law.

VK Mani