Latest news with #RajendraArlekar
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala to include lesson on Governor's powers in school syllabus
Amid growing friction between the Kerala government and Raj Bhavan, state general education minister V Sivankutty said a lesson on the constitutional powers and duties of Governors would soon be a part of the school curriculum. In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan(PTI) The announcement came just a day after Sivankutty walked out of an event at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram protesting against the display of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata', associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on the dais. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sivankutty said that the lesson explaining the constitutional rights and duties of Governors in India would be included in the second volume of social science textbooks for class 10 students this year. The chapter will be added to textbooks for students of classes 11 and 12 as part of curriculum revision as well, he added. 'Schools are the ideal place to learn the values of democracy. School curriculum is being revised while upholding constitutional values. In the country today, efforts to destabilise elected state governments through governors are rising. The Supreme Court has recently made it clear what the constitutional rights of governors are,' the minister said. His reference was to the Supreme Court's ruling on April 8 that set a timeline for Governors to clear state bills or refer them to the President. It also set a timeline for the President to clear them. The President has sought a Presidential Reference on the judgement. The court's ruling came after the state of Tamil Nadu approached it citing the alleged obstructionist behaviour of Governor R N Ravi. Several states governed by parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party have seen clashes between the elected government and the Governor, whose powers are limited under the Constitution. When asked if the decision had anything to do with the ongoing row with the Raj Bhavan over the use of the 'Bharat Mata' portrait, the minister replied, 'I strongly feel students must learn and understand the duties of governors. That's why we have decided to include the chapter. It is a part of constitution. It is true that governors are interfering a lot. Students must be taught the right things.' In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan -- especially when compared to the former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan -- has been locked in a tussle with the LDF government over the usage of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata' , showing a woman holding a saffron flag astride a lion at official events. The CM and ministers of the state government have argued that the portrait is associated with the RSS, the ideological fount of the BJP, and its display at official government events is inappropriate and violative of secular values. On Thursday, Sivankutty walked out in the middle of an event at the Raj Bhavan to honour scouts and guides after objecting to the display of the portrait. Later, he argued that Indian nationalism draws its strength from its diversity of languages, religions, regions, cultures etc. None of these can be contained within a narrow or unified image, he said. 'Calling the image of a woman carrying a saffron flag the sole symbol of Indian patriotism ignores this basic reality,' he added. Raj Bhavan issued a statement claiming that the minister's 'staged walkout' was a 'gross violation of protocol and a grave insult to the office of the Governor'. The Governor also said that there was 'no question of doing away with Bharat Mata as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood' from it. The office of the Governor said the minister's actions set a wrong precedent and that it viewed the developments with utmost concern. The row also spilled out onto the streets of Thiruvananthapuram with the SFI, student wing of CPI(M), taking a protest march to Raj Bhavan. In response, ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, displayed black flags as a convoy of the general education minister passed by.
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Mata row: CPI(M) accuses Kerala Governor of crossing Constitutional line by using RSS symbols at State events
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has accused Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar of crossing a Constitutional line by using Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) emblems at official functions hosted by Raj Bhavan. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told reporters on Friday (June 20, 2025) that General Education Minister V. Sivankutty had held the Constitutional line by walking out of a State function where Mr. Arlekar paid obeisance to the image of a 'woman holding a saffron flag', a ubiquitous heraldic device used by the RSS. He said the picture, 'replete with majoritarian religious imagery, broadcast the RSS' schismatic aspiration to render India a Hindu nation by supplanting the Constitution with the Manusmriti', an anachronistic and ancient text subscribes to a Hindu society defined by a segregationist and repressive caste and gender-based hierarchy. The CPI(M) welcomed the government's decision to include the Governor's role, responsibilities and Constitutional limitations as Head of State of Provincial Governments. 'Under severe social criticism for using RSS imagery at State events, Raj Bhavan initially recanted the political symbolism but relapsed to Sangh Parivar's ways soon after,' Mr. Govindan said.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Mammootty's Care and Share International Foundation launches Vidyamritham-5
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Arlekar inaugurated the Vidyamritham- 5 project of actor Mammootty's charitable organisation Care & Share International Foundation to provide free education to students from financially backward families, at the Raj Bhavan here on Monday. MGM Group chairman Geevarghese Yohannan, who is also the vice-chairman of Care and Share International Foundation, received the logo of the project from the Governor. The launch of the project was also announced by Mammootty through his social media accounts. Care and Share International Foundation, along with MGM Group, that runs 27 educational institutions, will ensure the higher education of bright students who are unable to pursue it owing to various reasons such as financial backwardness, death of parents or serious illnesses such as cancer in the family. Under Vidyamritham-5, 250 students will be chosen this year on the basis of their marks in the SSLC and higher secondary exams. In addition to this, another 200 students will be given admission in various CBSE schools of MGM through the project. According to the foundation's chairman K Muraleedharan, students selected as part of the project can pursue various courses in MGM's engineering, polytechnic and pharmacy colleges. For more details on the project, contact - 994648 5111, 994648 4111.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala Governor: Education is about developing oneself, building the nation
KOCHI: Stressing the significance of education, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, on Wednesday, said that education is important for developing oneself and the nation. Addressing the gathering at the event organised by K V Thomas Vidyadhanam Trust to distribute St Chavara Excellence Awards, he said that autonomous colleges can do a lot of things in the interest of students. 'Education is about building yourself. Once we build ourselves, it is easy to build our nation. So ultimately the aim of education is nation building. That is what we are trying to achieve. We have more autonomous colleges in the state. Being an autonomous institution itself tells how education is provided. There is progress every time. Now, autonomous colleges can do a lot of things in the interest of students. Many other branches can be incorporated and included in the curriculum,' he said. Citing the recent developments in the state, where youth are involved in crimes, he said family bonding should be given more priority. 'Youngsters should respect and learn from their parents and elders. The youth are now addicted to drugs. It should not be allowed. 'Youngsters should keep away from drugs,' the governor said. As many as 15 students of School of Communication at Sacred Heart College were honoured at the event. K V Thomas, Kerala's special representative in Delhi, Dr C T Aravind Kumar, Vice Chancellor of MG University, Fr Varghese Kachappally, manager of SH Institutions and others spoke at the event.
New Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Row over Bharat Mata concept unfortunate: Governor Rajendra Arlekar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The concept of Bharat Mata should not be turned into a controversy, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar said on Sunday. 'All Bharatiyas grew up taking a pledge that they are sons and daughters of one mother. People should be able to regard the concept of Bharat Mata with high esteem, irrespective of their political affiliations or ideologies. It is unfortunate that this idea is being dragged into controversy,' Arlekar said.
