RSS chief Bhagwat ignores Collector’s order, hoists national flag at Palakkad school

Palakkad: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday hoisted the national flag at a school here, ignoring a government order that prevented him from doing the honor to mark India's 71st Independence Day celebrations.

Palakkad District Collector P. Marykutty had denied permission to the RSS chief to hoist national flag at Karnakayamman High School, at Moothanthara, Melamuri in the district.

Bhagwat, who is in the district to participate in the RSS' two-day meet that began here Monday, however, went ahead and hoisted the tricolor at the school around 9 am on Tuesday.

The school belongs to RSS supporters and they had invited Bhagwat to be the chief guest on India's Independence Day.

Though the school had announced a couple of days back its plan, the Collector restrained the institute saying that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the flag in a government-aided school. The school officials were informed that head teacher or an elected representative of the people can hoist the flag.

The BJP had challenged the Collector's direction, declaring that Bhagwat would be hoisting the tricolour.

Interestingly, the RSS itself hoisted the national flag at its Nagpur headquarters for the first time in 2002.