Latest news with #RajendraArlekar
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala governor trying to turn universities into RSS branches: Hassan
Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Rajendra Arlekar 's suggestion to vice-chancellors to observe Aug 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is part of an effort to turn universities in state into RSS branches, alleged former UDF convener M M Hassan in a statement issued on Tuesday. "State govt should not accept this move by governor under any circumstances. During the freedom struggle, RSS adopted a stance that supported British imperial forces. Sangh Parivar collaborated with the British in the partition of India. Observing Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is a method devised by RSS to avoid celebrating Independence Day," Hassan said. "Central govt recognised this RSS event as an official programme after Narendra Modi came to power, and it has been mandatory in BJP-ruled states. Arlekar is attempting to impose this in Kerala too," he added. "Based on past experiences, it is understood that Modi's act of celebrating Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at Red Fort is a facade, as the day before is observed as Partition Day," he alleged. "Governor's stance tarnishes the sanctity of universities, which are centres of independent thought and knowledge. Governor is turning Kerala's universities into platforms for implementing RSS agenda. Students and the public should oppose this. The student community in Kerala should lead protests exposing governor's communal stance. If governor continues with his communal approach towards universities, the people of Kerala will act, as they did in the past by expelling Sir CP, to remove Rajendra Arlekar," said Hassan. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Scroll.in
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Kerala governor asking universities to observe ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' sparks row
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar asking universities in the state to observe August 14 as the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day has triggered a row. Objecting to the governor's circular to vice chancellors of universities in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said that the directive was ' unconstitutional and unacceptable'. 'Kerala will never allow its campuses to be turned into stages for the Sangh Parivar divisive agenda,' the Left front leader said. Referring to August 15, the chief minister added that the Sangh Parivar, or the group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, 'which had no role in the freedom movement and served the British Raj, now seeks to undermine Independence Day by promoting divisive agendas'. The RSS is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan also criticised the governor's decision, saying that it was unconstitutional, Mathrubhumi reported. 'By doing this, [Arlekar], holding a constitutional post, is openly telling Kerala that he still represents the divisive politics of the RSS,' Satheesan was quoted as saying. The governor's circular issued to the vice chancellor said that August 14, a day before Independence Day, has been declared as the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day and that the educational institutes 'can organise seminars to commemorate the occasion', The Indian Express reported. The governor is the ex-officio chancellor of all universities in Kerala. 'They can prepare dramas on this which can be done by going to the people and showing how terrible the Partition was,' read the circular. The circular was in line with a 2022 directive of the University Grants Commission to colleges and universities to hold an exhibition around August 14, The Indian Express reported. The institutes were asked to hold the exhibition at public places to ensure maximum participation from the public. The displays were to highlight the suffering people faced during the Partition. The 2022 directive had come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2021 that August 14 would be observed as the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. In 1947, when British-ruled India was divided into two independent countries – India and Pakistan – lakhs of people were forced to leave their homes. Large-scale communal violence broke out, women were abducted and sexually assaulted. At least 10 lakh people
The Print
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
After ‘Bharat Mata' portrait row, Kerala Governor faces flak over ‘Partition Horror Day' directive
The circular is the latest flashpoint in the tussle between Raj Bhavan and the state government. In June, both the government and the ruling Left Democratic Front, along with the opposition United Democratic Front, had taken to the streets to protest against the Governor, accusing him of turning Raj Bhavan into RSS headquarters after a 'Bharat Mata' portrait holding a saffron flag became a constant fixture at several official events. An official email from Kerala Raj Bhavan, which surfaced Monday, was s ent by the additional secretary to the Governor, saying that universities should observe 14 August as 'Partition Horror Day'. It directed that the universities could organise seminars and plays that 'show how terrible the Partition was' to the impacted people. The statement also directed vice chancellors to submit their action plans on the matter. Thiruvananthapuram: Amid already strained relations with the ruling Left, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar's directive to state universities to observe 14 August as 'Partition Horror Day' has sparked fresh controversy and condemnation from the government. The new directive has drawn sharp criticism from the state government and the Congress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the call was an attempt to diminish the importance of Independence Day. He alleged that the Sangh Parivar's push for such a commemoration alongside Independence Day stemmed from the fact that it had no role in the country's freedom struggle. 'It is unconstitutional for the Raj Bhavan to issue directives aligned with the Partition politics agenda of the Sangh Parivar. The Governor's action of sending circulars to vice-chancellors to observe August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is condemnable. We cannot allow our universities to be used as platforms to implement such an agenda,' the chief minister said in a statement Monday night. He added that the Sangh Parivar conveniently ignored the fact that the Partition and the post-Partition riots were the result of the British policy of divide and rule. Kerala Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan also asked under what authority the Governor had issued such a directive. 'It is unconstitutional for the Governor to make decisions and act in parallel to the state government. By doing this, Vishwanath Arlekar, holding a constitutional post, is openly telling Kerala that he still represents the divisive politics of the RSS,' the Congress leader said. However, an official at the Kerala Raj Bhavan told ThePrint that the circular was issued in the month of June in line with the University Grants Commission's directive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in 2021 the decision to observe 14 August as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' as a tribute to all those who had lost their lives during the Partition. The following year, the UGC had issued directives to universities and colleges to commemorate the day. (Edited by Sugita Katyal)
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Governor instructs varsities to observe August 14 as ‘Partition Horror Day'
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Igniting a fresh controversy, Governor Rajendra Arlekar has directed state-run universities to observe 'Partition Horror Day' on August 14, inviting a sharp reaction from the state government that dubbed his move as an 'overreach of authority'. As per a circular issued by the Raj Bhavan last week, universities have been asked to organise seminars and commemorative events, including street plays and dramas that highlight the 'trauma' of India's partition. The circular also directed Vice-Chancellors to submit action plans for the observance. Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an appeal four years ago to observe August 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,' it is for the first time that state universities have been directed to carry out its observance. Earlier, a Raj Bhavan directive asking universities to observe the anniversary of Emergency on June 25 as 'Constitution Assassination Day' had led to high drama at University of Kerala over the display of a Bharat Mata portrait at the venue. General Education Minister V Sivankutty accused the governor of attempting to run a parallel administration in the state. He said the governor did not have any constitutional power to instruct institutions to observe specific days. "This is a clear overreach of authority aimed at overriding an elected government,' he said. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan also criticised the governor's actions, calling them 'unconstitutional.' He urged the chief minister not to remain silent on the governor's actions. He also accused the governor of supporting the divisive politics of RSS.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala governor stirs storm with ‘Partition Horrors Day' directive to university vice-chancellors
Thiruvananthapuram: A directive from governor and chancellor Rajendra Arlekar to university vice-chancellors to organise programmes as part of observing Aug 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' has kicked up a political row in the state, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V D Satheesan questioning his authority to give such an instruction. Raj Bhavan had, in a circular, asked universities to organise seminars and theatre performances on campus to remember the horrors of Partition. The idea was first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, and since then, the Union govt has been observing the day. The Raj Bhavan circular also directed vice-chancellors to chalk out action plans for observing the day in a befitting manner. The CM said the actions emanating from Raj Bhavan, aligned with the divisive political agendas of the Sangh Parivar, are unconstitutional. "The governor's circular to vice-chancellors is objectionable... We cannot allow our universities to become platforms for implementing such an agenda," he said. Meanwhile, the opposition leader said: "What authority does the governor have to instruct vice-chancellors to observe 'Partition Horrors Day', sidelining the state govt? It is unconstitutional for the governor to make decisions and act parallel to the state govt." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15+ Food That Clean Arteries (Most People Ignore) Undo By doing so, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who holds a constitutional position, has essentially declared himself a spokesperson for the divisive politics of RSS, Satheesan said. General education minister V Sivankutty said in Kannur that the governor had acted as though operating a "parallel governance system", without the approval of the council of ministers elected by the people. "I do not understand under what authority he has issued such an invitation. He does not have such powers. The governor's powers are limited and this is not something connected to day-to-day administration, as courts and experts in the field have already made clear," he said. The chief minister said India's Independence Day served as a reminder of the anti-imperialist struggle and the brutalities unleashed by the British. "As we mark 78 years of independence, the idea of celebrating another day besides Aug 15 originates from the minds of Sangh Parivar... Those who had no role in the freedom struggle and served the British Raj seek to undermine Independence Day. During the freedom struggle, those who expended energy fighting 'internal enemies' rather than foreign powers now call for a day of remembrance for the horrors of Partition, thereby diminishing the significance of Independence Day," Vijayan said. The Sangh Parivar continues to operate with the same mindset as those who met the British Viceroy to express their support and clarify that they were not against the British Raj. Those who turned away from the united national freedom struggle of India's diverse communities are the ones now discussing the fear of Partition. The Partition of India and the ensuing violence were also results of the British policy of divide and rule, something the former British loyalists seem to have forgotten. The Sangh Parivar mocked leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who tried to quell the violence during the Partition, Vijayan added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
