SFI Protests at Kerala Raj Bhavan Against Display of RSS Leaders’ Portraits

Thiruvananthapuram: The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest in front of Kerala Raj Bhavan on Monday, registering strong opposition to the reported display of RSS leaders’ photographs inside the Governor’s official residence.
Holding portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar, the SFI activists raised slogans against Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and demanded the immediate removal of portraits of RSS founder K B Hedgewar and ideologue M S Golwalkar, which were reportedly placed alongside an image of Bharat Mata inside the Raj Bhavan premises.
Protesters attempted to paste the portraits of Gandhi and Ambedkar on the Raj Bhavan compound wall, asserting that the Governor's residence is a constitutional institution and not an ideological outpost. Police intervened and took the protesters into custody.
Earlier in the day, SFI State Secretary Sanjeev P S criticised Governor Arlekar in a social media post, saying the Raj Bhavan is not his ancestral property and should not be used to propagate the ideology of the RSS.
The protest has sparked renewed debate over the increasing attempts to introduce ideological symbolism into public institutions. The controversy follows an earlier incident during a World Environment Day event at Raj Bhavan, where a Bharat Mata portrait was prominently displayed. CPI leader and Agriculture Minister P Prasad boycotted the event, stating that constitutional authorities should not convert government functions into platforms for political messaging.
Education Minister V Sivankutty, a CPI(M) Central Committee member, echoed similar concerns, stressing that those holding constitutional positions must maintain neutrality and uphold democratic diversity.
Despite the growing criticism, Governor Arlekar remained defiant, declaring, “Whatever be the pressure, from whichever quarters, there will be no compromise whatsoever on Bharat Mata.”