Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan for condemning three university Vice-Chancellors attending an RSS event addressed by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat. Chandrasekhar accused the Chief Minister of hypocrisy on secularism and constitutional values, citing his alliances with certain political parties and organizations.
Satheesan had labeled the Vice-Chancellors’ participation in the RSS event as a “serious lapse,” questioning the appropriateness of their attendance. Chandrasekhar, in response, highlighted the Chief Minister’s alleged associations with groups like the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami, questioning his credibility on secularism.
The controversy arose when the Vice-Chancellors attended an event related to the RSS centenary celebration, where Mohan Bhagwat spoke. Satheesan emphasized the need for Vice-Chancellors to uphold the dignity and neutrality of their positions, expressing concern over their involvement in an event associated with an organization promoting communal ideologies.
Chandrasekhar criticized the Congress and CPI(M) for using anti-RSS rhetoric to garner minority votes, claiming that such strategies were losing relevance in Kerala. He asserted a growing trend of Malayalis openly supporting nationalist sentiments and the RSS, challenging traditional political narratives in the state.
The exchange between the BJP leader and the Chief Minister has sparked a wider discussion on the responsibilities of university administrators, the neutrality of public institutions, and the boundaries of political discourse in a democratic society.
