RSS CHIEF DEFIES CPM ORDER

Defying the CPMled government in Kerala, RSS chief unfurled the national flag at a school.

Palakkad (Ker)/ New Delhi, Aug. 15: Defying the CPM-led government in Kerala, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday unfurled the national flag at a school in Palakkad in alleged violation of an official order.

Palakkad District Collector P. Marykutty had issued an order on Monday night stating that since the Karnagi Amman school was governmentaided, only elected representatives or school authorities could hoist the flag, as per protocol.

Marykutty said she has submitted a report to the government and the decision on whether a case would be registered against the RSS chief will be taken by it.

She had earlier said she will instruct the police to register a case against Bhagwat.

The RSS defended its chief ’s action in a statement which said that after due consultations, “the school authorities decided that they would proceed as planned and that Bhagwat must exercise his constitutional rights”.

“We condemn such brazen attempts by the CPM-led government of Kerala to deny the citizens their basic right of celebrating Independence Day and their continuous attempts to poison the state of Kerala with divisive politics,” RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya said.

Senior CPM leader Brinda Karat, however, criticised Bhagwat for violating the rules of the Kerala government. — PTI