Bharat Mata portrait row triggers protests; CPM mouthpiece slams guv
Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode: The Bharat Mata portrait row involving governor Rajendra V Arlekar and the state govt intensified on Saturday, with protests erupting across various parts of the state and CPM's mouthpiece Deshabhimani publishing a hard-hitting editorial against Raj Bhavan.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
In a strongly worded editorial, Deshabhimani asserted that Raj Bhavan is not a "shakha" (unit) of RSS. It accused the governor of publicly challenging the Constitution by turning Raj Bhavan into a venue to display and propagate RSS ideology. How else could this act be described, if not as a blatant violation of constitutional norms, it asked.
According to the latest photos released by Raj Bhavan, the governor paid floral tributes to the portrait during the Yoga Day celebrations held there on Saturday.
Raj Bhavan also dismissed reports that its security would be handed over to the central forces due to threats from opposition youth organisations. "The governor has total faith in the commitment to duty and efficiency of Kerala police in the discharge of their responsibility.
...," a statement from Raj Bhavan said.
CITU took out a protest march to Raj Bhavan, accusing the governor of attempting to turn it into a centre of RSS activity and violating the Constitution.
SFI raised a banner in front of the Sanskrit College in Palayam, declaring that "Raj Bhavan is not RSS's ancestral property".
In Kozhikode, a protest by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) against general education minister V Sivankutty, who had walked out of an event at Raj Bhavan over the portrait, ended in a clash with SFI workers. The BJYM workers staged the protest when the minister arrived at Jubilee Hall to attend an event organised in connection with the upcoming SFI national conference in the city.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
As the minister arrived, Yuva Morcha workers waved black flags. However, a group of SFI workers present at the venue tried to stop them, leading to the clash. Police intervened and took the protesters into custody. Sivankutty later alleged that the RSS faction controlling Raj Bhavan had orchestrated the demonstrations against him in Kozhikode.
In protest against the police action, BJP workers staged a demonstration near the venue at Tali Temple. They burnt an effigy of Sivankutty and alleged that police personnel deployed in the area were aiding SFI workers in unleashing violence against BJYM activists. BJP district president Prakash Babu warned that the party would continue its protest if the police failed to take appropriate action against the SFI workers who, he claimed, attacked Yuva Morcha activists in custody.
Meanwhile, BJP workers paid floral tributes to portraits of Bharat Mata, similar to the one placed in Raj Bhavan, at various district centres as a mark of protest against the LDF govt's stand on the issue. (With agency inputs)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Want similar volume of water across Yamuna in city: Rekha
New Delhi: Reiterating her govt's commitment to rejuvenating the Yamuna, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday that she wanted a consistent flow of water throughout the river's stretch in the capital. Speaking to reporters during an International Day of Yoga event at Sonia Vihar Water Sports Club — where the river maintains a continuous flow till Wazirabad — Gupta said her aim was to ensure the entire stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi had a similar volume of water. Delhi govt held yoga events at 11 locations in the city, attended by ministers, BJP MPs, MLAs, councillors, bureaucrats and other prominent people. Gupta was joined by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and minister Kapil Mishra in Sonia Vihar. On the choice of the venue, Gupta said they wanted to show people that the cleaning work of the river was underway. " Yamuna river is the symbol of our faith, but the previous govts ignored it. They did not work to clean it. But in the four months that we have been in power, we have worked to clean it," she claimed. "People ask me, where will the cruise run? I want to tell them, the cruise will run on this river where students performed yoga today on boats," CM said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo She also criticised the previous AAP govt and said it associated yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and did not celebrate the occasion. "If they associate yoga with PM, what can we do? Tomorrow, the AAP leader might give up his food if he sees PM associated with it. After seeing the BJP govt in Delhi, he has left the national capital," she jibed. Delhi assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta participated in a yoga session at Lodhi Gardens. He reiterated the importance of collective action and awareness to build a healthier, more resilient nation rooted in the timeless wisdom of yoga. Education minister Ashish Sood said that for the first time, the city govt officially celebrated Yoga Day in the capital. "The 11th International Yoga Day was marked simultaneously at 11 locations, with more than 20,000 yoga practitioners taking part in the events. Yoga Day was also observed on a large scale in colleges, and nearly 10,000 yoga enthusiasts gathered at Chhatrasal Stadium today," he said. Sood led the event at the stadium. Water and PWD minister Parvesh Verma performed yoga at Thyagaraj Stadium. Health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh participated at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Park event. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, the party's national general secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh and other senior functionaries also performed yoga at the same park. Social welfare minister Ravinder Indraj Singh participated in a session at Bawana Stadium, while environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa led the celebrations at the hockey ground in Ashok Nagar.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Nicknames, Humour & Advice: How PM Modi's Personal Touch Inspires NDA's Young Turks
Last Updated: The prime minister's leadership is marked by an emotional intelligence that often goes unseen in conventional politics On the morning of June 21, as the Sun rose over the coastal town of Visakhapatnam, a state-wide celebration of International Yoga Day unfolded in Andhra Pradesh. But beyond the Yoga mats and pranayama sessions, what truly struck a chord with the people was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm and public praise for a rising leader—Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. In his address, PM Modi didn't just compliment Lokesh's month-and-a-half-long effort to turn Yoga Day into a people's movement, he affectionately referred to him as 'Bhai", not once but multiple times. The crowd noticed, and so did the political observers. A spontaneous moment the evening before had already gone viral—a candid photo of PM Modi placing a friendly arm around Lokesh and the two sharing a laugh. In Andhra's political circles, the message was loud and clear: Lokesh had arrived. But this wasn't a one-off interaction. Recently, PM Modi invited Lokesh and his family to his official residence in Delhi. Over two hours, they discussed governance, politics, personal anecdotes, and even Lokesh's young son, Devansh, who walked away utterly delighted. It was a rare, relaxed meeting that showed how the prime minister nurtures personal relationships even in the thick of political life. If Lokesh is the 'Bhai", then Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP and son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is the 'Bhau". A moniker usually reserved for an elder brother, the nickname was picked up by PM Modi after hearing how fellow MPs affectionately referred to Shrikant during an international delegation tour. Back home, even Eknath Shinde couldn't hide his pride. During a speech on Shiv Sena Foundation Day, an emotional Shinde Sr spoke of how his son had made every Sena worker proud—and even more so, his own father. PM Modi's mentorship style isn't always loud or ceremonial—but rather consistent, direct, and deeply personal. One of the youngest ministers in his cabinet, TDP's Rammohan Naidu, discovered this during one of the most emotionally taxing times: the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. As the minister in-charge faced growing pressure and grief, PM Modi offered crucial advice—remain calm, composed, and focused. He cited his own experiences during natural disasters, including moments where he had personally lifted victims' bodies during relief efforts. At a review meeting in Ahmedabad, the prime minister emphasised, 'It's easy to get emotional; staying steady is the true test of leadership." Such interactions reflect how Modi communicates not just with ministers, but with fellow MPs across party lines. Whether it's telling TDP MPs to 'call him anytime" if they need anything—'after all, he's an MP too"—or advising LJP leaders to make the most of their 'MY" (Mahila-Yuva) combination, Modi's messages resonate with both the politically seasoned and the first-timers. For many within the NDA, these aren't just niceties—they are moments of validation, encouragement, and connection. Take, for instance, Chirag Paswan, who often says Modi is his 'Ram", while he sees himself as 'Hanuman". The emotional bond is deeply felt, especially given the personal and political upheavals Chirag has faced. Children and teenagers too have stories. Whether it's Jaiveer Shergill's daughter, who was told by the PM, 'If your father troubles you, come to me," or the late Ananth Kumar's grandson, who declared to PM Modi that he wanted to grow up to be 'Hanuman", the anecdotes are as endearing as they are telling. Even Poonam Mahajan's daughter, upon meeting PM Modi, simply assumed he was her 'Ajoba" (grandfather)—because he was, in her words, 'so cool". Whether it's through affectionate nicknames like 'Bhai" and 'Bhau", informal dinners, or deeply human conversations during national crises, Modi's leadership is marked by an emotional intelligence that often goes unseen in conventional politics. He isn't just steering the ship—he's also cultivating the next line of captains. These moments may not always make it to the headlines, but for those involved, they become defining memories.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Bharat Mata portrait row triggers protests; CPM mouthpiece slams guv
Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode: The Bharat Mata portrait row involving governor Rajendra V Arlekar and the state govt intensified on Saturday, with protests erupting across various parts of the state and CPM's mouthpiece Deshabhimani publishing a hard-hitting editorial against Raj Bhavan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a strongly worded editorial, Deshabhimani asserted that Raj Bhavan is not a "shakha" (unit) of RSS. It accused the governor of publicly challenging the Constitution by turning Raj Bhavan into a venue to display and propagate RSS ideology. How else could this act be described, if not as a blatant violation of constitutional norms, it asked. According to the latest photos released by Raj Bhavan, the governor paid floral tributes to the portrait during the Yoga Day celebrations held there on Saturday. Raj Bhavan also dismissed reports that its security would be handed over to the central forces due to threats from opposition youth organisations. "The governor has total faith in the commitment to duty and efficiency of Kerala police in the discharge of their responsibility. ...," a statement from Raj Bhavan said. CITU took out a protest march to Raj Bhavan, accusing the governor of attempting to turn it into a centre of RSS activity and violating the Constitution. SFI raised a banner in front of the Sanskrit College in Palayam, declaring that "Raj Bhavan is not RSS's ancestral property". In Kozhikode, a protest by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) against general education minister V Sivankutty, who had walked out of an event at Raj Bhavan over the portrait, ended in a clash with SFI workers. The BJYM workers staged the protest when the minister arrived at Jubilee Hall to attend an event organised in connection with the upcoming SFI national conference in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As the minister arrived, Yuva Morcha workers waved black flags. However, a group of SFI workers present at the venue tried to stop them, leading to the clash. Police intervened and took the protesters into custody. Sivankutty later alleged that the RSS faction controlling Raj Bhavan had orchestrated the demonstrations against him in Kozhikode. In protest against the police action, BJP workers staged a demonstration near the venue at Tali Temple. They burnt an effigy of Sivankutty and alleged that police personnel deployed in the area were aiding SFI workers in unleashing violence against BJYM activists. BJP district president Prakash Babu warned that the party would continue its protest if the police failed to take appropriate action against the SFI workers who, he claimed, attacked Yuva Morcha activists in custody. Meanwhile, BJP workers paid floral tributes to portraits of Bharat Mata, similar to the one placed in Raj Bhavan, at various district centres as a mark of protest against the LDF govt's stand on the issue. (With agency inputs)
