Controversy erupts over Onam pookalam with ‘Operation Sindoor’ inscription at Kerala temple

A floral carpet (pookalam) created during Onam at the Parthasarathy Temple in Muthupilakk, Kollam, sparked controversy and a police case against 27 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists.

The design included both the RSS flag and the words “Operation Sindoor” crafted in flowers, adjacent to a temple committee’s own floral display.

Temple authorities asserted that such decorations violated a 2023 Kerala High Court order prohibiting flags and related items near the temple premises.

Temple committee member Asokan C told the press that tensions had previously arisen due to flag installations near the temple during festivals.

To prevent clashes, the committee had sought and obtained a High Court prohibition. Despite this, the RSS members laid their design, prompting the committee to file a complaint under the court's directive.

Following the complaint, Kerala Police registered an FIR invoking Sections 223 (disobedience to public servant’s order), 192 (provocation with intent to cause riotous response), and Section 3(5) (criminal act by several persons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The incident escalated politically when BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar condemned the police action as “shocking.” On X, he questioned whether Kerala was under Islamist rule, and promised legal action if the FIR was not withdrawn.

He further described “Operation Sindoor” as a symbol of the armed forces’ strength and valor, stating that penalizing it was an insult to those who defend the nation.