A floral carpet (‘pookalam’) laid at the Parthasarathy temple in Muthupilakk, Kollam district, has triggered a major political row after 27 RSS activists were booked for allegedly violating a Kerala High Court order banning decorative items near the temple compound.
According to the temple committee, the ‘pookalam’ carried an RSS flag design and the inscription “Operation Sindoor.”
Temple committee member Mohanan explained that there had been frequent clashes in the past over flag installations near the temple during festivals. “To prevent such disputes, we had approached the Kerala High Court in 2023, which banned decorative installations — including flags — around the temple compound. Despite this, RSS activists laid a floral carpet with their flag design and inscribed ‘Operation Sindoor’ next to the temple committee’s own floral design,” he told PTI.
Another temple committee office-bearer, Asokan C, said, “We have full respect for Operation Sindoor, but this is not how it should be portrayed. The act violated the High Court order and could have led to clashes. Hence, we filed a complaint.”
Based on the complaint, the Kerala Police registered a case against the 27 accused under Sections 223 (disobedience to lawful order), 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), and 3(5) (criminal act committed by several persons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Political Reactions
BJP Criticises FIR
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly condemned the police action.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar called the FIR “shocking” and alleged that Kerala was being run under “appeasement politics.”
“This is Kerala. It is a proud part of India. Yet, an FIR has been lodged for making a Pookkalam with the words ‘Operation Sindoor’ in it. Absolutely unacceptable!” he wrote on X, adding that the party would challenge the FIR in court if it is not withdrawn.
Chandrasekhar argued that Operation Sindoor symbolises the courage of India’s armed forces, and taking legal action against those honouring it “insults every soldier who defends the nation.”
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya echoed the sentiment, accusing the ruling Left government of “appeasement politics.”
“In Kerala’s Kollam district, police forced the removal of an Onam Pookalam simply because it carried the words ‘Operation Sindoor.’ This isn’t Pakistan. This is Kerala under Left rule, where even flowers with patriotic messages are treated as a threat,” he wrote on X.
FIR Mentions Provocative Installations
The FIR also noted that a flex board of Chhatrapati Shivaji was installed about 50 metres from the temple, an act allegedly intended to provoke rival political groups and potentially cause a riot.
