ABVP, Yuva Morcha protests orchestrated by RSS: Min

Kozhikode/T'puram: Education minister V Sivankutty alleged that people promoting RSS agenda at Raj Bhavan orchestrated the demonstrations against him in Kozhikode on Saturday.

"I am aware that this group is backing the ABVP and Yuva Morcha workers who carried out the attack against me," the minister said while attending a seminar organized in connection with the national conference of Students Federation of India (SFI) at Jubilee Hall in Kozhikode.

"Their true regard for the national flag was revealed when they tore down the flag displayed on my car," Sivankutty said.

Meanwhile, Raj Bhavan dismissed reports that the security of the property would be handed over to the central forces due to threats from opposition youth organizations.

"A section of the media carried reports suggesting that Raj Bhavan proposes to seek protection by the central forces for the governor in the wake of isolated protest demonstrations by some students and youths. The reports are absolutely baseless, and there is no such move or plan whatsoever by the Raj Bhavan in this regard," a statement said.

It further stated, "The governor has total faith in the commitment to duty and efficiency of Kerala police in the discharge of their responsibility. They have been performing their duty extremely well and to the best of the Raj Bhavan's satisfaction."

Raj Bhavan strongly denied any threat, direct or indirect, to the governor. "The reports are therefore much ado about nothing and only a figment of their imagination and speculation," the statement said.

The statement was issued in the wake of a series of protests being carried out by the youth organizations of the CPM towards the Raj Bhavan in the Bharat Mata controversy. Two ministers of the LDF govt had protested against the placement of the Bharat Mata picture with a saffron flag at the govt function held inside the Raj Bhavan.

On Thursday, Sivankutty had boycotted a function attended by the governor in protest. Following these events, SFI and DYFI have been organizing a series of protests against the governor. Recently, when the governor visited Kerala University, SFI raised banners against him.