Kerala’s Education Minister, V Sivankutty, has ordered an investigation after controversy erupted over school students singing the RSS song “Gana Geetham” during the launch of the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express. This event, which was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, featured twenty students and two teachers from Saraswathi Vidyanikethan Public School in Kochi.
The choice of song stirred political tensions in Kerala. Both the ruling CPI(M) and the Opposition Congress expressed strong disapproval, accusing the BJP of using rail services to promote divisive politics. The minister highlighted this concern, stating that using students to promote any political agenda violates the principles of secularism enshrined in the Constitution.
Minister Sivankutty emphasized that schools must abide by secular standards. He indicated that if they don’t, the state government has the authority to revoke their No Objection Certificate (NOC) for operation. This scrutiny comes as the school is part of Bharatheeya Vidyanikethan, an RSS-affiliated educational organization.
Despite the school’s principal, K P Dinto, claiming that the Railways were not involved in the students singing the song, the government agency posted the video on its social media. The CPI(M) further criticized the incident, arguing that the song does not promote patriotism but rather fosters division. They emphasized that Kerala has a strong tradition of secularism that should be protected.
Historically, controversies involving education and politics have often ignited debates about nationalism and community identity in India. For example, similar events in the past have led to state-wide protests and discussions on secular education.
Notably, a 2022 report from the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) found that 68% of students believe schools should remain neutral regarding political affiliations. Therefore, this incident reflects broader concerns about the influence of politics in educational settings.
As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to witness how it impacts the school and the state’s ongoing commitment to educational integrity and secular values.
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