After RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at a school at Palakkad district on Independence Day, defying the order of the district administration prohibiting him from doing so, the RSS has released a statement justifying Bhagwat’s action.

Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS said that Bhagwat was invited by the management of Karnakayamman Higher Secondary School, Palakkad to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of the school and Independence Day celebrations.

“At 11 pm of 14th August 2017, the headmaster of the school received a notice from the District Collector stating that only the institutional heads or an elected representative can unfurl the national flag in the school. It is however, learnt that no other school had been given similar information,” a statement by Manmohan Vaidya said.

“After due consultations, the school authorities decided that they will proceed as planned and that Sarsanghchalakji must exercise his constitutional rights. Dr Mohanji Bhagwat hoisted the flag along with other institutional heads of the school,” the statement said.

The statement also said that it condemns the attempts by the CPI-M led government of Kerala to deny the basic rights of a citizen to celebrate Independence Day. “Their continuous attempts are to poison the state of Kerala with divisive politics,” it said.

The RSS chief’s act of hoisting the flag despite opposition from the district collector, who pointed out that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag at an aided school, quickly escalated into a controversy in the state.

According to reports, Bhagawat sang ‘Vande Matharam' instead of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ which is in violation of the flag code.

The collector Marykutty has directed that a case against the school manager and the head master be made regarding this incident.