Ministers in the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala on Friday made it clear that they were not in agreement with the use of the Bharat Mata portrait at the World Environment Day event at Raj Bhavan here as the picture was not authorised as the official version by the Constitution or the Indian government.
Agriculture Minister P. Prasad, who boycotted the event at Raj Bhavan a day ago over the use of the portrait, said that those in constitutional offices cannot convert government programmes into political events.
A similar view was expressed by General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, who said Raj Bhavan and the Governor were above politics and said Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should withdraw from the stand taken by him.
The Governor had on Thursday asserted that there would be no compromise on Bharat Mata.
No Indian flag
Mr. Prasad, while talking to a TV channel, said no Bharat Mata portrait has ever been acknowledged as the official or authorised version by the Constitution or any of the governments in power since independence. The portrait was not carrying the Indian flag, but that of a political organisation, and, therefore, it could not be honoured during a government event. The Governor was free to pay homage to the portrait at private events, but it cannot be done in State government programmes.
“We all have a political view, but those in constitutional positions have restrictions on how they express it,” he said adding that the government view was that such a stand ought not to have been taken by a constitutional establishment. He expressed the hope that it will be corrected by the persons concerned. “It actually should not be repeated in our country. We cannot accept it in Kerala,” he added.
The Minister questioned why the Governor was “rigid” on the issue when none of the earlier Governors and not even the Presidents of the country have carried out such a practice in the past.
Published – June 06, 2025 07:43 pm IST
