Kerala: Palakkad Municipality faces backlash over move to name skill development centre RSS ideologue Hedgewar

Youth Congress and DYFI activists staged a protest against the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a skill development centre for intellectually challenged children, being established by the Palakkad Municipality. The centre is to be named after RSS ideologue and founder K.B. Hedgewar, popularly known as Doctorji.

Youth Congress workers staged a protest by standing inside the pit dug for the ceremony. They were arrested by the police. Soon, DYFI activists too came in protest.

The BJP has been ruling the Palakkad Municipality since 2015. That year, the party won 24 out of 52 seats. In the 2020 local body elections, it increased its tally to 28 seats.

The skill development centre is being constructed using CSR funds from a company named Oceanus Dwellings.

The DYFI and the Congress allege that the municipality is attempting to propagate Hindutva by naming the centre after the RSS ideologue.

Meanwhile, BJP district president Prasanth Sivan told THE WEEK that the protests by Youth Congress and DYFI have less to do with the naming of the centre and more to do with political rivalry. “That’s all it is. The Congress ruled this municipality for years and couldn’t initiate such projects,” he said.

Prasanth further alleged that the DYFI and Congress are raising objections because local body elections are approaching. “They want to create the impression that the BJP is inactive,” he said. “Notably, the BJP-ruled Palakkad Municipality was ranked first in project fund utilisation in the state in the last financial year. They are trying to stir political controversy.”

India