Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Thursday walked out of a function at the Raj Bhavan, objecting to the display of a Bharat Mata portrait on the dais. The incident occurred during the Rajyapuraskar Award distribution ceremony for Bharat Scouts and Guides, jointly organised by the state government and the Governor Rajendra Arlekar's office.

Addressing a press conference later, Sivankutty said he raised an objection upon seeing the image placed alongside the ceremonial lamp. “Since I was scheduled to deliver the presidential address, I first congratulated the awardees. But I also made it clear that displaying the image of Bharat Mata at a government function is inappropriate,” the minister said. He then registered his protest and walked out of the event.

Sivankutty criticised the inclusion of political or religious symbols in official events, calling it a violation of the secular character of government programmes.

This marks the second instance of a state minister walking out of a Raj Bhavan event recently. On June 5, during World Environment Day celebrations, Agriculture Minister P Prasad also objected to a similar display of the Bharat Mata portrait, calling it part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) iconography. According to Prasad, the Governor refused to remove the image. As a result, the official Environment Day function was relocated to the Durbar Hall at the Secretariat. The Governor continued with the Raj Bhavan event in the absence of any state ministers, lighting a ceremonial lamp in front of the garlanded portrait.

The friction between the CPM-led state government and Governor Arlekar, a BJP appointee with RSS links, has largely remained under the surface until now. But the recent events point to a sharp escalation in hostilities.