As the country celebrates the 71st Independence Day on Tuesday, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat was restrained from hoisting the national flag at a school in Kerala.

The RSS Chief was to hoist the national flag at Karnakayamman High School in Palakkad district on Tuesday morning, but was restrained by the district collector. Collector Marykutty issued a memo to the school late on Monday night, pointing out that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag at an aided school.

An elected representative or the Principal of the school can do so, but not a political leader, the collector's memo said.

However, the BJP in the district has raised opposition to the collector's decision and have accused the collector of acting upon the instructions of the ruling LDF.

"She acts as the Branch Secretary of CPI (M) that is why such a circular was sent at 11pm last night. It says only headmaster can hoist the flag, There is no such rule. So no circular can be issued based on a rule which doesn't exist. We are going ahead with the plan, why should we follow a rule which doesn't exist," Adv E Krishnadas, BJP's Palakkad District President told TNM.

Image by arrangement

However, Mohan Bhagwat eventually hoisted the national flag as planned at the school at 9:30am on Tuesday.