Violence erupts at Kerala University over saffron-clad Bharat Mata at governor’s event

Even as protests continue over a controversial image of Bharat Mata holding a saffron flag being displayed during an official event inside Raj Bhavan, the same image was placed at another venue outside Raj Bhavan where Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar participated. The event, titled ‘Fifty Years of Emergency’, was organised by Sree Padmanabha Seva Samiti at the Kerala University Senate Hall. The Samiti is known to be affiliated with the RSS.

Student outfits SFI and KSU protested against the placement of the image, alleging it violated university norms. KSU activists were quickly removed from the venue by police. Left-aligned student leaders and university syndicate members argued that religious symbols are not permitted at university events, and demanded the event be called off. Meanwhile, BJP and RSS supporters gathered on the opposite side, leading to a tense standoff.

Soon, a clash broke out between left workers and BJP-ABVP supporters outside the venue. Left activists also clashed with the police outside the Senate Hall as the police attempted to arrest some of the activists. In view of the escalating tension, the university registrar had informed Raj Bhavan that the governor should not attend the event. Around 6 pm, the registrar announced that the event had been cancelled.

However, defying the advice, Governor Arlekar proceeded to the venue. The university registrar had earlier asked the organisers to remove the image, but the organisers refused. The governor arrived at the venue around 6.30 pm and lit the ceremonial lamp in front of the Bharat Mata image.

During his speech at the event, the governor said both he and his father had been jailed in Goa during the Emergency. The governor recalled that CPI(M) and RSS worked together during the Emergency, saying it was the need of the time back then. He also recalled how Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was brutally beaten during the emergency. 

Following his arrival, police moved the protesting SFI activists outside the university gates.

The police have closed the main gate, and SFI continues to protest outside, raising slogans against the governor. SFI accused Arlekar of coming to Kerala as governor as part of a political conspiracy. SFI also called the Kerala University VC, Mohanan Kunnummal, also an RSS-affiliated VC.

The governor’s convoy left the university premises through an alternate gate as SFI activists were protesting outside the main gate.

India