No Right to Preach Secularism, BJP Targets Kerala CM Over Mohan Bhagwat Event Row

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Kerala after the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp attack on the state’s leadership over criticism of Vice Chancellors who shared a मंच with Mohan Bhagwat.

Senior BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday strongly criticised Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, stating that “he has no moral authority to lecture others on secularism or constitutional values.”

What Sparked the Controversy?

The row began after the Chief Minister condemned the participation of three Vice Chancellors in an event linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where Mohan Bhagwat was a keynote speaker.

In a social media post, the CM described their attendance as a “serious lapse”, triggering a swift and aggressive response from the BJP.

BJP’s Strong Counterattack

Responding to the remarks, Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of engaging in “appeasement politics”.

He alleged that:

ALSO READ : Historic Takeoff, First Commercial Flight Lands at Noida Airport in Jewar, A New Era for UP Aviation Begins

• The government has “normalised radical elements”
• It depends on support from groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and the Indian Union Muslim League
• It has no standing to speak on secularism

In a sharply worded statement, Chandrasekhar said:
“Someone who is in power due to such support must not talk about supporting secularism or respecting the Constitution.”

Vice Chancellors Row Deepens

The BJP leader also termed it “unacceptable” for a Chief Minister to question Vice Chancellors for attending a public event.

“A constitutional authority should not intimidate academic leaders for participating in open platforms,” he asserted, raising concerns over academic freedom and political interference.

Political Accusations Intensify

Chandrasekhar further escalated the attack by accusing both the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of using the BJP and RSS as tools for vote-bank politics.

“The days of fear-mongering using BJP and RSS are over,” he said, adding that the people of Kerala now recognise “both Congress and CPI(M) as similar when it comes to appeasement politics.”

A Larger Political Battle

The controversy reflects a broader ideological clash in Kerala, where debates over secularism, political alliances, and institutional independence often dominate the narrative.

With both sides hardening their positions, the issue is expected to fuel further political confrontation in the state in the coming days.