BJP Names Kerala School After RSS Founder, Congress Protests
In a recent development that has sparked controversy in Kerala, the Palakkad municipality, controlled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has decided to name a school after K.B. Hedgewar, the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The move has been met with strong opposition from the Congress and CPI(M) councillors, who clashed with their BJP counterparts during a meeting to discuss the decision.
The Palakkad municipality’s decision to name the school after Hedgewar has been seen as a move to perpetuate the ideology of the RSS, a right-wing organisation that has been accused of promoting communalism and divisive politics. The opposition parties have accused the BJP of trying to impose its ideology on the people of Kerala, which has a strong tradition of secularism and cultural pluralism.
The controversy began when the Palakkad municipality announced its decision to name the school after Hedgewar, who was a key figure in the formation of the RSS in 1925. The RSS has been accused of promoting a narrow and exclusionary brand of nationalism, and has been linked to several incidents of communal violence in India.
The opposition councillors from the Congress and CPI(M) parties were not happy with the decision and decided to protest during the municipality’s meeting. They carried placards with slogans like “Who is Hedgewar” and “No to communal politics”, and shouted slogans against the BJP.
The BJP councillors, however, remained unmoved and refused to back down from their decision. They argued that Hedgewar was a national figure who had played a key role in the freedom struggle, and that naming the school after him was a way to pay tribute to his contributions.
The controversy has sparked a heated debate in Kerala, with many arguing that the decision is an attempt to impose the ideology of the RSS on the people of the state. The RSS has a significant presence in Kerala, and has been accused of trying to infiltrate and influence local politics.
The Congress and CPI(M) parties have accused the BJP of trying to promote communal politics in Kerala, and have demanded that the decision be reversed. They argue that the state has a strong tradition of secularism and cultural pluralism, and that the RSS’s ideology is incompatible with these values.
The BJP, on the other hand, has defended its decision, arguing that it is a way to promote national integration and unity. They argue that Hedgewar was a key figure in the freedom struggle, and that naming the school after him is a way to pay tribute to his contributions.
The controversy has also sparked a debate about the role of the RSS in Indian politics. The RSS has been accused of promoting communalism and divisive politics, and has been linked to several incidents of communal violence in India.
The controversy has also highlighted the growing divide between the BJP and the opposition parties in Kerala. The BJP has been trying to make inroads in the state, and has been accused of trying to promote communal politics to divide the people of Kerala.
In conclusion, the controversy over the naming of a school in Kerala after RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar has sparked a heated debate in the state. The opposition parties have accused the BJP of trying to promote communal politics, while the BJP has defended its decision, arguing that it is a way to promote national integration and unity.
Source:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/political-storm-name-palakkad-school-hedgewar-9972829/lite/
