Hedgewar row: Scuffle between UDF, CPM and BJP members in Palakkad municipal council meeting

Palakkad: Once again, things have gone worse as a ruckus broke out during the Palakkad municipal council meeting, with CPM and UDF councillors staging a protest against the municipality’s decision to name a special school after RSS founder Dr K.B. Hedgewar. Tensions flared when a poster was raised asking, "Who is Hedgewar?" This led to a heated verbal exchange and eventually a physical altercation between CPM, UDF and BJP councillors. Reports indicate that the chairperson was manhandled, and one councillor collapsed during the commotion.

The atmosphere in the council remains tense. Police are attempting to disperse the councillors, but the situation is yet to be brought under full control. When CPM and UDF councillors demanded an apology from the BJP over the Hedgewar issue, BJP councillors countered with a demand to rename Jinnah Street and held placards in protest.

Anticipating possible protests regarding the Hedgewar issue, additional police forces had been deployed. As CPM and UDF councillors raised the matter, BJP councillors simultaneously took up the issue of Jinnah Street’s name, which led to a verbal clash and eventually a scuffle.

The controversy began when a decision was made to name a special school after Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS. This move was met with opposition from UDF and CPM councillors, escalating into a larger political row. Despite the protests, the municipal administration stood firm on its decision to name the school after Hedgewar.

As the issue appeared on the council meeting agenda, CPM and UDF councillors waved black flags and stormed the dais in protest. Anticipating such a move, the BJP responded by raising slogans and demanding the renaming of Jinnah Street. This further escalated the situation into a conflict that eventually turned physical.