Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisted the national flag at a State government-aided school at Moothamathara near here on Tuesday, defying the district administration’s order.
District Collector P. Marykutty sent a written direction late on Monday to the authorities of the Karnakiyamman High School, restraining them from allowing the RSS chief to unfurl the tricolour.
The order cited rules on who could have the honour.
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However, Mr. Bhagwat reached the school, accompanied by a group of BJP and RSS leaders, at 8.25 a.m. and hoisted the flag.
In her order, the district collector had reminded the school authorities that no political leader could be permitted to hoist the national flag at a government-aided school on occasions like the Independence Day. Citing rules applicable in such situations, she said only the headmaster of the institution or an elected representative of the people could be allowed to do so.
However, the BJP-RSS leaders justified Mr. Bhagwat’s action saying the flag code permitted all citizens to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. The RSS leadership also accused the District Collector of having acted according to the dictates of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
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Mr. Bhagwat is in Palakkad for the last two days attending a series of functions organised by various Sangh Parivar outfits. The ‘pro-BJP-RSS’ Karnakiyamman Educational Trust reportedly invited Mr. Bhagwat to hoist the national flag on Independence Day and address the students of the school run by it, bowing to the wishes of the district leadership of the BJP and RSS.