Raj Bhavan’s RSS- style demand for Environment Day forces Agriculture Department to shift venue

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Raj Bhavan receive d public backlash on Thursday by insisting that the state’s World Environment Day celebrations follow a routine similar to that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Because of this demand, the Agriculture Department, which was in charge of organising the event at Raj Bhavan, cancelled the program there and moved it to the Secretariat instead.

The main issue was the Governor’s insistence that the event, which included planting a tree in the Raj Bhavan garden, begin with a flower offering and the lighting of a ceremonial lamp before a specially designed image of Bharat Mata, commonly used by the RSS and its affiliates.
The Agriculture Department strongly disagreed, saying this ritual did not fit with Kerala government’s secular and inclusive values. They officially told Raj Bhavan that the Environment Day celebrations should follow the usual state government way.
Despite this clear message, Raj Bhavan kept insisting on the RSS-style ceremony and did not listen to the state government’s concerns. Because of this, the Agriculture Department decided to hold the event at the Secretariat, making sure it stayed neutral and followed the constitution.
This situation has raised worries that the Governor’s office in Kerala is pushing a political agenda, mixing ideology with official government functions, which many see as inappropriate.