BJP corners CPI(M) ahead of RSS chief hoisting national flag in Kerala school again

As Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is all set to hoist the national flag at a school in Kerala on Republic Day despite facing censure from authorities from doing the same last year on Independence Day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday cornered the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) in Kerala for attempting to communalise the whole affair.

"The state government is making this issue only to create an issue between the minority and the majority," BJP leader Shiv Shankaran told ANI, adding that Bhagwat was due to be in Palakkad for an RSS state meet on January 26, which led him to make the decision.

The BJP leader also accused the government of diverting the media's attention from more important issues.

"There are lots of corruption cases against this government and they want to divert the media attention towards non-issues," he said.

Recalling last year's spat between the RSS chief and government authorities, Shankaran said the government could not take any legal action against the school or Bhagwat as there was no violation of law.

"Government has been claiming that they had sent a notice to that school, but even today no such notice has been received. This means that there is no legal sanction or legal sanctity for this particular action," Shankaran said.

Further, he also accused CPI(M) of supporting anti-national activities, alleging that hoisting of Pakistan's flag and training by terror organisations were continuing in Kerala unabatedly.

Bhagwat hoisted the national flag in Karnakkiyamman School in Kerala's Palakkad last year on August 15, even after the district collector issued a memo to the school, categorically stating that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag in an aided school.