9 hours ago
Bharat Mata cannot be made a topic of debate: Guv
Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Rajendra Arlekar said that the concept of Bharat Mata should not be made controversial. "Indians grow up reciting the pledge as brothers and sisters, and children of one mother.
The concept of Bharat Mata should be seen above any ideology or politics one believes in. Making Bharat Mata a subject of dispute is most unfortunate," the governor said.
While speaking at a function organized to distribute the awards to students who won the Mann Ki Baat-based quiz on Sunday, the governor said, "It is happy to note that now those who were hesitant to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai have started chanting the same. Bharat Mata cannot be made a topic of debate or discussion. Can our mother be made a topic of discussion?"
The governor's statement came in the wake of the boycott by agriculture minister P Prasad from a function organized at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of environment day.
The minister boycotted the event citing the reason that a picture of Bharat Mata used by the Sangh Parivar was kept at the official function of the govt.
The Raj Bhavan went ahead with the event and offered floral tributes before the picture of Bharat Mata by the Governor. The minister later inaugurated a related event at the govt secretariat.
The CPI organized an event on Saturday in all districts by hoisting the national flag and planting trees as a mark of protest against the governor. In the event held at the state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the CPI leaders raised Bharat Mata ki jai slogans.
