Kerala’s World Environment Day celebrations were overshadowed by a political flashpoint on 5 June 2025 after Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad and another cabinet colleague boycotted an event at the Raj Bhavan, protesting the display of a Bharat Mata portrait on stage.
The controversy erupted after officials from the Governor’s office allegedly insisted on including a prominent image of Bharat Mata on the dais. The image is widely associated with RSS shakhas, prompting objections from the Left-led state government.
Minister Prasad, who had initially requested that the event be held at Raj Bhavan, pulled out after the Governor refused to remove the portrait. In a statement, the Raj Bhavan said, “The Governor had gladly granted permission. However, when the minister insisted that the portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage be removed, the Governor had to turn down the request. Following this, the minister boycotted the event.”
The statement also noted that the minister was expected to attend both the morning and evening sessions at the Raj Bhavan but “unfortunately, he abstained from both.”
Speaking at the event, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar stood firm: “I was told that the minister wanted the Bharat Mata photo and image to be removed from the dais. I told them that we will do everything possible, but we cannot remove Bharat Mata, we cannot remove our ‘mathrubhumi’. These are idols for which we are living. We cannot do away with this.”
He emphasized the cultural significance of the image, saying India has a long tradition of worshipping and protecting nature. “Some present day ‘isms’ are demanding the abandonment of this tradition,” the Governor said. “Real environment protection is possible only by upholding our traditions and living a life true to it.”
No Compromise on Bharat Mata: Governor
Whatever be the pressure from whichever quarters there will be no compromise whatsoever on Bharat Mata asserted Kerala Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Aralekar, here today.@rajendraarlekar pic.twitter.com/shjyVPQY2J— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) June 5, 2025
Minister Prasad responded by asserting that the government respects Bharat Mata, but the specific image used was politically loaded and inappropriate for an official function. “The programme agenda was prepared by Raj Bhavan, and we accepted it. But yesterday evening, they suddenly added a new item—paying floral tributes to the portrait of Bharat Mata. This goes against constitutional norms, and that picture is widely used by the RSS,” he told PTI Videos. “The Raj Bhavan, which hosts a constitutional office, should not have used an image that is used exclusively by a particular organisation.”
Following the disagreement, the Agriculture Department swiftly relocated the official celebration to the Durbar Hall at the Secretariat, where the function was held at 11 AM on Thursday.
It is noteworthy that the concept of Bharat Mata likely emerged from Vande Mataram in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Anandamath in 1882 — a good forty years before the RSS was even founded. Also. Bankim Chandra envisioned Bharat Mata as an embodiment of Durga, Kamala, and Vani — all unmistakably Hindu symbols.
Last month, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also expressed his disapproval, albeit belatedly, over the Raj Bhavan’s invitation to RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy for a lecture on Operation Sindoor. This time, the government’s response was immediate and firm.
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