In a significant political development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State general secretary Shobha Surendran has publicly condemned Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty. Her criticism centers on a recent incident at Kumbla Government Higher Secondary School in Kasaragod, where teachers reportedly interrupted a pro-Palestine mime performance during a school arts festival. This alleged intervention quickly ignited a firestorm of controversy, leading to strong protests from student organizations like the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), both of whom demanded immediate disciplinary action against the involved educators.
Previously, Minister Sivankutty had initiated an inquiry by requesting a report from the Director General of Education regarding the incident. However, Ms. Surendran escalated her critique by questioning the Minister’s motives, suggesting he might be intentionally fostering divisions among the student community through his handling of the situation.
Beyond the mime controversy, Ms. Surendran further amplified her demands, calling for a comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged disappearance of gold-plated panels adorning the sacred Dwarapalaka idols at the revered Sabarimala temple.