Apologise to Kerala: CM Satheesan slams Vice Chancellors for attending RSS event

The RSS centenary event controversy has snowballed into a political slugfest, with Kerala CM VD Satheesan demanding an apology from three Vice Chancellors and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar launching a fierce counterattack.

In Short

• Satheesan called the vice chancellors' presence a grave lapse damaging academic dignity
• He said Kerala traditionally holds the vice chancellor's office in high esteem
• The three academics represented Kerala, MG and Malayalam universities at Saturday's event

A political controversy has erupted in Kerala after Chief Minister VD Satheesan demanded an apology from three Vice Chancellors who attended an RSS centenary event addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, calling their participation a "grave lapse" that was unbecoming of their office.

In a strongly worded post on X, Satheesan said the presence of the Vice Chancellors at the RSS programme ran contrary to Kerala's educational traditions and had diminished the dignity associated with the post.

"We view with utmost seriousness the participation of three Vice-Chancellors in an RSS centenary event addressed by Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat. This is a grave lapse. Their action is unbecoming of Keralam's educational tradition and the dignity of their office," Satheesan wrote.

The controversy centres on the participation of the Vice Chancellors of Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University and Malayalam University in the RSS centenary celebrations held on Saturday.

'THEY HAVE UNDERMINED THAT RESPECT'

Satheesan said the people of Kerala held the office of Vice Chancellor in high regard and argued that the participation of the three academics in the RSS event had weakened that public trust.

"The people of Keralam hold the post of vice-chancellor in high esteem. By attending a programme led by an RSS leader who preaches extreme communalism, they have undermined that respect," he said.

The Chief Minister also took aim at what he described as attempts to legitimise communal politics, saying such actions could not be accepted regardless of who was responsible.

"Any act that promotes communalism, whoever commits it, is unacceptable and will not be condoned," he wrote.

DEMANDS APOLOGY

Escalating his criticism, Satheesan said the three Vice Chancellors should apologise to the people of Kerala for attending the RSS function.

"All three Vice-Chancellors who attended the RSS programme must apologise to the people of Keralam," he said.

His remarks have intensified a debate over whether senior academic administrators should participate in events organised by ideological organisations and political movements.

RSS CENTENARY EVENT SPARKS ROW

The RSS programme was organised as part of the organisation's centenary celebrations and was addressed by Mohan Bhagwat. While the event itself drew considerable attention, the presence of the three Vice Chancellors quickly became the focal point of a political dispute.

BJP HITS BACK

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched a sharp counterattack.

In a post on X, Chandrasekhar accused Satheesan of hypocrisy on secularism and questioned his criticism of the Vice Chancellors for attending a public programme addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"Let us be very clear and honest with the people of Keralam. Someone who has normalised radical Islam, anti-Constitution, anti-secular organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and who is in power only because of support of Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami must not ever talk about supporting secularism or respecting the Constitution," Chandrasekhar wrote.

Calling the criticism of the Vice Chancellors unacceptable, he said, "It is unacceptable that a CM who takes an oath to uphold law and Constitution is now intimidating Vice-Chancellors for attending a public programme with the respected head of RSS, Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji."

The BJP leader also accused the Congress and the CPM of indulging in vote-bank politics and using the RSS and BJP as political targets to consolidate minority votes.

"The days of treating the BJP and RSS as a way to distract people and fear-monger for Muslim Malayalee votes are over," he wrote.

Chandrasekhar further claimed that people in Kerala would "fearlessly express their nationalism" and stand with leaders who put the nation first.

- Ends