RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has done it again. Openly flouting the state government’s express order that only school heads can hoist the tricolour at educational institutions, he hoisted the flag at Vyasa Vidyapeeth school at Palakkad on Republic Day.
The flag hoisting was held at 9.30am in the presence of state RSS and BJP leaders. Tight police security had been arranged for the function.
On January 17, the government had issued a circular directing that only school heads can hoist the national flag at educational institutions.
Bhagwat had been present at the Vyasa Vidyapeeth since Thursday night.
He will reportedly attend a three-day programme of the RSS at the Vidyapeeth.
BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan, state RSS leaders, and scores of other BJP leaders were present at the function.
The RSS argument reportedly is that since Vyasa Vidyapeeth is a CBSE school, the government circular doesn’t apply to it.
The General Administration department in a circular issued on January 17 regarding Republic Day celebrations at government offices and schools, had directed that hoisting of flag at schools should be done by the heads of educational institutions. Last year, on Independence Day, Bhagwat had hoisted the flag at Karnakayamman High School in Palakkad which sparked a row in the state as he violated the government circular in this regard.
In December, the Chief Minister directed action against the manager and principal of the school for allowing Bhagwat to hoist the tricolour.
The CM also directed the police to examine whether a criminal case will hold on this issue.
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations also, the General Education department had issued a circular that the national flag should be hoisted in schools on this day, only by people's representatives or headmasters.
The then District Collector of Palakkad P Marykutty issued a memo to the school, saying that it was not appropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag at a school.
The memo also cited that an elected representative or the principal of the school can do so, but not a political leader.