Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture Minister P Prasad boycotted the Environment Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan. The disagreement arose over a portrait of Bharat Mata (Mother India) displayed on the stage, which is commonly used in RSS events. Citing this, the Minister withdrew from the programme.

The state government had planned for the Environment Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan to be jointly inaugurated by Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Agriculture Minister P Prasad. Afterward, the Agriculture Department expressed its displeasure to Raj Bhavan authorities about the portrait on the stage.

Raj Bhavan officials stated that the portrait had been displayed there previously and that many events had been held against the same backdrop, so it could not be removed. The Governor upheld this position. Consequently, the Minister boycotted the event.

Following the controversy, the Agriculture Department shifted its Environment Day celebrations to Darbar Hall. Meanwhile, the planting of saplings at Raj Bhavan and the Environment Day celebrations there were conducted under the Governor’s leadership.