Kerala CM orders action against school over RSS chief hoisting flag on I-Day
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the general education department to take action against the manager and headmaster of Karnakiamman Higher Secondary School in Palakkad in connection with the flag-hoisting by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Independence Day. Education Minister C. Raveendranath later told reporters that action would be taken as per law.
The action would be for flouting the flag code 2002 that spells out the reciting of the national anthem. Here Vande Mataram was sung after the flag was hoisted in the school. The Chief Minister gave the directions on November 27.
As per rules, political leaders have no permission to hoist the flag at aided schools and government firms. Only the head of the school and departmental heads have the right to do so. The national anthem should be recited after hoisting the flag.
The DPI office had issued a notice to the headmaster and manager seeking an explanation on the issue. Action is being taken on the report of the education department on the basis of the explanation given by the headmaster and the manager. The office of the Chief Minister had also directed the Palakkad SP to give an explanation on the criminal case to be charged.
Mr Raveendranath said communalisation would not be allowed in the education sector. Bhagwat hoisting the flag at the school was a serious incident. A report had been sought from the DDE over the issue. Action would be taken as soon as the report was submitted.
As per the report submitted by the intelligence wing and the Thahasildar, Mr. Bhagwat reached the school, accompanied by a group of BJP and RSS leaders, at 8.25 a.m. and hoisted the flag at 9 p.m. The national anthem was not sung then. Instead, Vande Mataram was sung.
Later, after the function was over and the dignitaries left, the national anthem was played after the audience left. The school authorities performed a second flag-hoisting later. Vande Mataram was played after this function also, as per the Thahasildar's report. In her order, the then district collector P Marykutty had reminded the school authorities the previous night that no political leader could be permitted to hoist the national flag at a government-aided school on occasions like the Independence Day. Citing rules applicable in such situations, she said only the headmaster of the institution or an elected representative of the people could be allowed to do so.
