Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh row broke out at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday during a Scouts and Guides programme, when Minister for General Education V Sivankutty staged a walkout in protest at the display of a Bharat Mata portrait on stage.

According to reports, Sivankutty had earlier received assurance that the portrait would not be part of the event. On finding it displayed upon his arrival, he walked out without participating in the ceremony.

Officials at the Raj Bhavan had previously affirmed that images of Bharat Mata would not be used during official events governed by strict protocol, including ministerial oath-taking ceremonies. Likewise, rituals such as lighting lamps or floral tributes were said to be excluded from such formal occasions.

However, they clarified that these exclusions did not apply to other types of events at Raj Bhavan. For such functions, gestures including the display of the Bharat Mata portrait would remain standard.

Recurring controversy after earlier boycott

This incident comes in the wake of a similar protest when Agriculture Minister P Prasad boycotted the Environment Day event at Raj Bhavan. His objection had also centred on the image of Bharat Mata being used during the programme.

Following that controversy, the state government clarified that the objection was specifically to the depiction of Bharat Mata holding a saffron flag. Subsequently, Raj Bhavan authorities permitted the use of a revised image, in which Bharat Mata was shown holding the national tricolour instead.

Officials at Raj Bhavan further stated that rituals such as offering flowers to the portrait were not compulsory. They maintained that anyone uncomfortable with participating in such gestures was free to refrain.