Daijiworld Media Network – Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 15: A major political controversy erupted in Kerala after three university vice chancellors attended an event addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Thiruvananthapuram, drawing sharp criticism from the state's ruling and opposition parties.

The row began after the vice chancellors of University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University and Malayalam University participated in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's centenary celebrations held in the state capital on Saturday.

Kerala Opposition leader V D Satheesan condemned their participation, describing it as unbecoming of the state's educational tradition. He said the vice chancellors had undermined the dignity of their offices and should apologise to the people of Kerala.

“Any act that promotes communalism, whoever commits it, is unacceptable and will not be condoned,” Satheesan said, while indicating that action would be sought against the officials.

Senior CPI(M) leader and former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also criticised the vice chancellors, alleging that their participation reflected efforts to expand the RSS's influence in Kerala's higher education sector.

“This is a clear example of how the RSS is trying to tighten its grip over the higher education sector,” Vijayan said, while also questioning the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) over its approach towards the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

The BJP, however, defended the vice chancellors and accused its political opponents of engaging in appeasement politics.

Leading the defence, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Satheesan was attempting to intimidate the vice chancellors for attending a public programme.

He also criticised both the Left Democratic Front and the UDF, alleging that they had long used the BJP and RSS as political targets for vote-bank considerations.

Chandrasekhar further accused the Left government of relying on support from organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Social Democratic Party of India, claiming they promoted divisive politics.

The event, attended by Bhagwat, marked the RSS's centenary celebrations. Addressing the gathering, the RSS chief spoke about the organisation's history and said it had often been misunderstood. He maintained that the RSS was not opposed to any section of society or any political party.

The controversy has reignited the debate in Kerala over the role of educational institutions and university administrators in political and ideological events, with both sides trading accusations over attempts to influence the state's academic landscape.