Kerala Political Storm Over RSS Song Performance at Railway Event
A major political controversy has erupted in Kerala after school students performed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) 'Gana Geetham' during the inaugural ceremony of the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The incident sparked immediate reactions from both the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress-led opposition, who strongly objected to what they described as the use of a government platform for promoting RSS ideology.
Event Details and Immediate Fallout
The controversy began when Southern Railway shared a video on its social media handles showing twenty students and two teachers from Saraswathi Vidyanikethan Public School in Kochi singing the RSS-associated song during the train's inaugural run. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the service virtually.
Following the political backlash and widespread criticism, Southern Railway removed the controversial video from its official social media accounts. The swift removal indicated the sensitivity of the issue and the political pressure that had mounted.
Political Reactions and Accusations
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a strong attack on the Sangh Parivar, accusing them of using the Railways for their communal campaign. In his statement, Vijayan emphasized that "inclusion of the song of RSS, which always spreads religious hatred and divisive politics, in a government program is a violation of constitutional principles."
The Chief Minister further stated that "the Railways, which had served as a cornerstone of nationalism during the freedom struggle, are now supporting the communal agenda of RSS, which had betrayed the freedom struggle."
Opposition leader V D Satheesan from the Congress party echoed similar concerns, calling the incident "illegal and undemocratic." He objected specifically to students being made to participate in such an activity and accused the BJP of implementing its divisive politics in Kerala.
Satheesan stated, "The Union Government is using the Railways for communal propaganda just like it has been politically using constitutional bodies like the Election Commission. The inaugural run of the train witnessed the narrow politics of Sangh Parivar to divide people on the basis of religion and caste."
School's Defense and Institutional Links
In response to the growing controversy, Saraswathi Vidyanikethan Public School principal K P Dinto came forward with a different version of events. He claimed that the Railways had no role in the song selection and explained that a TV channel crew had initially requested the students to sing Vande Mataram.
According to Dinto, when the crew asked for a Malayalam song instead, the students spontaneously sang the Gana Geetham, which he described as "a celebration of unity in diversity." The principal insisted that the controversy was meant only to insult the students and that the song was not against nationalism.
However, the school's institutional affiliations added fuel to the political fire. The CBSE-affiliated institution comes under Bharatheeya Vidyanikethan, which serves as the Kerala chapter of Vidya Bharathi - the education wing of the RSS. This connection provided additional ammunition to critics who saw the incident as part of a larger pattern.
Broader Political Implications
The incident has highlighted the ongoing political tensions in Kerala, where the BJP has been attempting to gain a stronger foothold in a state traditionally dominated by left and centrist parties. The controversy also underscores the sensitivity surrounding the use of educational institutions and government platforms for what opposition parties perceive as ideological promotion.
As the political debate continues, the incident has raised important questions about the separation between government functions and political ideology, particularly in a diverse and politically aware state like Kerala. The removal of the video by Southern Railways suggests that the institution recognized the problematic nature of the content, though the damage to inter-party relations had already been done.
The controversy comes at a time when political polarization in India remains high, and such incidents often become flashpoints for broader ideological battles. Both the CPM and Congress have positioned themselves as defenders of secular values against what they describe as the Sangh Parivar's communal agenda.
