Thiruvananthapuram: Protest against placing the picture of Bharat Mata at a function inaugurated by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Kerala University's senate hall in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday ended up in clashes.
Pro-CPM and pro-Congress student activists, who staged protest against placing the picture of Bharat Mata, and pro-BJP students activists clashed in front of the senate hall. Amidst the tense situation, the Governor attended the programme under tight police cover.
A private organisation had organised the function in connection with the 50th anniversary of Emergency in the country. The university authorities were also learnt to have opposed the use of picture of Bharat Mata with saffron flag at the function citing that no religious symbols should be used at the senate hall.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the state cabinet on Wednesday decided that the state government will send a letter to the Raj Bhavan stating that no religious pictures should be used at official functions at the Raj Bhavan.
A friction has been going on between the Governor and the left-front government over the use of Bharat Mata picture at functions at the Raj Bhavan.