RSS anthem sung by kids at Vande Bharat launch: Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the singing of an RSS anthem by schoolkids during the Vande Bharat Express launch, describing it as an attempt to promote the RSS's communal agenda under the guise of patriotism.
He said using Railways for political messaging is unacceptable and goes against constitutional values.
School, government at loggerheads over saffronization charges
The controversy began after Southern Railway posted (then deleted) a video showing Saraswathi Vidyanikethan Public School students singing on the Ernakulam-Bengaluru train.
Critics, including Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, accused the government of trying to "saffronize" official events.
The school insisted it was just a patriotic song, while Kerala's Education Minister has ordered an investigation.
Vijayan's secular stance
Vijayan is Kerala's Chief Minister and a leader in the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
He's known for his strong secular stance and often speaks out against attempts to bring religious politics into public institutions.