Kerala Orders Probe Into RSS Song Controversy on Vande Bharat Express Inaugural Journey

The Kerala government on Sunday initiated an investigation into an incident where school students reportedly sang an RSS song onboard the newly launched Vande Bharat Express running from Ernakulam to Bengaluru.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty has directed the Director of Public Instructions (DPI) to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a report on the matter. According to a statement from the minister's office, the government considers this incident extremely serious.

Sivankutty emphasized that using children to promote any particular group's communal agenda at government events violates constitutional principles. "The Director of Public Instructions has been instructed to immediately conduct an inquiry and submit a report," he stated.

The investigation will determine if there were any lapses in allowing students to participate in the official event. The minister added that appropriate action would follow based on the inquiry findings.

Sivankutty further noted that the government has a responsibility to uphold the country's secular and national values, assuring that steps would be taken to protect these principles.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Suresh Gopi defended the students' performance, describing it as "part of the innocent celebration of children" when speaking to reporters in Thrissur. "They felt to sing that song at the moment and they did so. Anyway, it's not an extremist song," stated the minister of state for petroleum, natural gas, and tourism.

The controversy emerged after a group of school students sang an RSS song during the inaugural journey of the new Vande Bharat Express, sparking strong reactions across Kerala.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the Southern Railway's reported action on Saturday, saying it "deserves to be protested." He criticized including an RSS song, which he claimed "constantly spreads anti-religious hatred and communal divisive politics," in an official government program, calling it a violation of constitutional principles.

The Chief Minister also stated that allowing Sangh Parivar to use the Railways, the country's largest public sector undertaking, for spreading alleged communal political propaganda was unacceptable.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan expressed similar concerns, describing the inclusion of the RSS song in a government program as "illegal and undemocratic." He alleged that the BJP was attempting to implement divisive politics in Kerala, similar to what he claimed was happening in northern India.

Following widespread criticism, the Southern Railway reportedly withdrew its social media post about the incident. However, later on Sunday, they reposted on platform 'X' a video of the students' performance along with an English translation.

The post stated: "The students of Saraswathi Vidyalaya beautifully performed their school song during the inaugural run of the Ernakulam Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express."