Kerala Student Song Row: 'Patriotic' or 'RSS'?

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A controversy erupted in Kerala after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that students on the Vande Bharat Express were made to sing an 'RSS song'. However, the school involved, Saraswathi Vidyalaya, has clarified that the students were actually singing a patriotic Malayalam song, 'Paramapavitramathamie Mannil Bharathambaye Poojikkan', which expresses reverence towards Bharat Mata and pride in their nation. The controversy began when Southern Railways posted a video of the students singing the song on social media, but later deleted it after facing backlash. The school has since written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their anguish over the incident and clarifying that the song does not contain any words or sentiments against secularism or national unity. The Kerala government has ordered an inquiry into the matter, with Education Minister V Sivankutty stating that using students to promote political or communal agendas during government events is a violation of constitutional principles. The minister has assured that the government will take further action based on the inquiry report to protect the secular national values of the country. The opposition Congress has also condemned the incident, with leaders terming it as a 'despicable political conspiracy' and 'communal propaganda'. The controversy has sparked a debate on the use of students in government events and the promotion of communal agendas.