Thiruvananthapuram, June 14 (IANS) Kerala BJP leader, MLA and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan over his criticism of three Vice Chancellors who attended an RSS programme addressed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, accusing the government of attempting to intimidate academics for participating in a lawful public event.

Muraleedharan’s response came after Satheesan demanded that the Vice Chancellors apologise to the people of Kerala for attending the RSS function.

The Chief Minister had described their participation as a serious lapse and said it was inconsistent with Kerala’s educational traditions and the dignity attached to the office of Vice Chancellor.

In a strongly worded social media post, Muraleedharan said the government was trying to create fear among individuals who attended an event organised by a legal and recognised organisation.

“The Chief Minister is trying to intimidate Vice Chancellors for attending an RSS programme. RSS is not a banned organisation, and no university rule prohibits Vice Chancellors from participating in its events. If the government believes a violation has occurred, it should act legally instead of issuing threats,” he said.

The BJP leader argued that any alleged violation should be dealt with through established legal and administrative procedures rather than through public criticism and political pressure.

“If the government genuinely believes that any rule has been violated, it has every right to initiate appropriate legal action. Public statements targeting Vice Chancellors amount to intimidation and are not the proper way to address such issues,” he added.

Muraleedharan further alleged that the controversy was politically motivated and aimed at appeasing groups opposed to the RSS.

“These statements are nothing but an attempt to appease Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI while targeting a nationalist organisation that has served the nation for a century,” he said.

The controversy erupted after three university Vice Chancellors attended a public programme in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday as part of the RSS centenary celebrations, where RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat delivered a keynote address.

Their participation drew criticism from Chief Minister Satheesan, who questioned the propriety of heads of higher educational institutions attending an event organised by the RSS.

In a social media post, Satheesan said the participation of the Vice Chancellors in the RSS event was a matter of serious concern and termed it a grave lapse.

He argued that Kerala society holds the office of Vice Chancellor in high esteem and said their presence at a programme led by the head of the RSS was inconsistent with the neutrality and dignity expected of academic leaders.

The Chief Minister also called upon the three Vice Chancellors to apologise to the people of Kerala.

The issue has since triggered a fresh political confrontation in the state, with the BJP accusing the government of ideological intolerance and the ruling establishment defending its criticism of the Vice Chancellors’ participation in the RSS programme.

–IANS

aal/pgh