Kerala Govt Orders Probe After Students Sing RSS Song On Vande Bharat Express

The Kerala government on Sunday ordered an inquiry into the singing of an RSS song by school students onboard the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express from Ernakulam to Bengaluru, an incident that has triggered a political storm. While the Union Ministers defended the act as patriotic, the state government and opposition parties termed it a violation of secular principles.

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty directed the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) to conduct an investigation and submit a detailed report. In a statement, the minister said the government viewed the incident with the "utmost seriousness." Sivankutty stressed that using children to promote the ideology of any group at official events violated constitutional values.

He added that the inquiry would examine whether there were procedural lapses in involving students in an official programme. "The government has a duty to uphold secular and national values, and necessary action will be taken based on the findings," he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress condemned the episode, demanding action against the school management for allegedly using children for "communal purposes." However, the school authorities defended the students, arguing that the song reflected "unity in diversity" and questioned what was communal about it.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi justified the incident, describing it as part of an "innocent celebration by children." Speaking in Thrissur, he said, "They felt like singing that song at the moment, and they did. It's not an extremist song." George Kurian, another Union Minister from Kerala, echoed his view, saying, "What is communal in a 'gana geetham'? Those who spread anti-India sentiments abroad may not like such songs."

Dinto K.P., Principal of Saraswathi Vidyanikethan Public School in Elamakkara, identified as the institution involved, maintained that the song was a Malayalam patriotic composition chosen voluntarily by the students and not directed by Southern Railway. He revealed that the school had sent letters to the Prime Minister's Office and the Union Railway Minister after the video of the performance was removed from Southern Railway's official X (formerly Twitter) account following public backlash.

Dinto added that Southern Railway might repost the video, and expressed disappointment over the state government's reaction. "We don't know why the Education Minister has ordered a probe. If the department proceeds with action, we may take legal steps," he said. He also pointed out that the children were facing cyberbullying and being labeled as "Sanghi kids" online.

The issue drew sharp criticism from CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who both accused the BJP of communalizing Kerala. Satheesan said, "At an official function, children were made to sing an RSS gana geetham. Action must be taken against the school responsible. Who decided to use children for communal purposes?" He added that official events should remain apolitical, arguing, "If the RSS wants to sing its gana geetham, its members can do so themselves. How can such a song be called patriotic?"

The controversy erupted a day earlier after a video showing students singing an RSS song during the inaugural run of the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express went viral, drawing strong reactions. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the act, accusing the Southern Railway of including an RSS song-associated with "anti-religious hatred and divisive politics"-in an official programme. He said the move violated constitutional principles and deserved strong protest.

Amid the backlash, Southern Railway initially deleted the social media post but later reposted the video on Sunday evening with the caption: "The students of Saraswathi Vidyalaya beautifully performed their school song during the inaugural run of the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express," along with its English translation.

The incident continues to stir political and social debate in Kerala over the boundaries between patriotism, education, and communal neutrality in public events.