PMO seeks report from Kerala govt

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sought an explanation from the Kerala government over Palakkad district administration’ order that restrained RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat from hoisting the national flag at a school in Palakkad on Independence Day.

The PMO has sought an explanation from the chief secretary following a complaint made by BJP Palakkad district president, E Krishnadas, saying that the district administration had flouted a citizen’s right to respect the Tricolour. The letter addressed to the chief secretary asked the respondent to send a copy of the reply to the petitioner and upload the same on the PMO portal.

“It was nothing but a ploy to humiliate a tall leader. It has exposed the ruling party’s fascist face,” Krishnadas told HT, adding that he would explore further action after getting the reply.

Despite the district collector’s directive, Bhagwat unfurled the Tricolour, inviting criticism from the government. District collector Mary Kutty had restrained the government-aided school, saying it was not proper for a political leader to hoist the flag in an aided school. The collector said the head teacher or a student representative of the school can unfurl the flag.

However, the Karnakiamman Higher Secondary School, located on the outskirts of Palakkad town, went ahead with its plan. The RSS and BJP had criticised the move and blamed the ruling CPI(M) for enforcing the diktat. They said the flag can be hoisted by any citizen and restraining someone was a fascist move. Two days after the event, the collector was shunted out.