Kerala Minister Defends Colleague in Protocol Dispute

Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu defended her colleague, V Sivankutty, against accusations of protocol breach at Raj Bhavan. Sivankutty left an event over a Bharat Mata portrait, sparking criticism from the Governor. Bindu claimed the Governor violated protocol by promoting RSS propaganda.

The controversy surrounding a breach of protocol by V Sivankutty, Kerala's General Education Minister, during an official event at Raj Bhavan has intensified. Kerala's Higher Education Minister R Bindu stepped forward on Friday to support her colleague, dismissing the allegations made by the Governor's office.

Sivankutty's actions came under fire after he exited a 'Scout and Guide Certificates' distribution programme, objecting to the presence of a Bharat Mata image, commonly associated with RSS events, while Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was in attendance. The situation escalated when the Governor's office labeled it a 'serious breach of protocol'.

Minister Bindu strongly criticized the Governor, accusing him of transforming Raj Bhavan into a hub for RSS propaganda. She emphasized that the inclusion of such imagery at official functions undermines democratic values and stated it was the Governor who breached protocol by displaying the portrait.

(With inputs from agencies.)