Controversy erupts over institute named after RSS founder; Cong files complaint

Palakkad:The controversy over naming a skill development centre for disabled persons after RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar has intensified, with the Congress filing a police complaint against BJP's Palakkad district president for allegedly threatening remarks made against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.

The issue erupted when Congress, Youth Congress, and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists disrupted the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the centre, organized by the BJP-led Palakkad municipality, on Friday. Following the disruption, BJP district president Prasanth Sivan reportedly said that Mamkootathil would not be allowed to enter the district. In response, Congress lodged a formal complaint with the police regarding Sivan's remarks, a party source confirmed.

Reacting to the threat, Mamkootathil addressed reporters on Saturday, asserting that as long as he has legs, he would continue to stand firm and speak out against the RSS. He added, "If they cut off my legs, I will use my remaining body to speak against the RSS. To stop me from speaking, they will have to cut off my tongue. Even then, I will keep working against the RSS." Mamkootathil further emphasized that, unlike Sivan, he was an elected representative of the people and expressed curiosity about the action Kerala Police would take against such threatening statements.

On Friday, after the disruptions at the foundation ceremony, BJP supporters held a march to the Congress district office, chanting slogans in support of Hedgewar. DYFI, Congress, and YC activists clarified that they were not opposed to the project itself but objected to its naming after the RSS founder.

The chairperson and vice-chairperson of Palakkad municipality questioned the significance of the name, arguing that the project itself was more important. Later the same day, Mamkootathil led a protest against the naming of the centre after Hedgewar, asserting that the Congress would take strong action against it. He also claimed that no proposal had been presented before the municipal council to name the project after Hedgewar and stated that legal measures would be pursued to challenge the decision.

With PTI inputs