Criticism grows over Kerala Vice-Chancellors attending RSS chief’s programme

Criticism over the participation of Vice Chancellors (V-Cs) of three State-run university in Kerala in a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) programme attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat continues to intensify, with academic organisations, university employees’ bodies and political leaders condemning the development and raising concerns over the perceived ideological influence of the Sangh Parivar in the higher education sector.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal launched a sharp attack on the Vice Chancellors for attending the programme. In a statement, he described their participation in the event as “an embarrassment to enlightened Kerala” and questioned their suitability to head public universities.

He alleged that people who subscribed to the ideology of the RSS were unfit to lead institutions of higher learning, and demanded that the Vice Chancellors resign if they wished to openly associate with the organisation. He opined that leadership positions in universities required commitment to academic excellence, secular values, democratic principles and the Constitution.

The Congress leader added that Kerala would not permit the growth of a culture that promoted ideological allegiance to the RSS and said the State’s social and political traditions were rooted in constitutional values, secularism and democratic ideals.

The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) also expressed apprehension over the participation of university heads in an RSS-linked programme. In a statement, the organisation stated that higher education administrators had a special responsibility to uphold constitutional values such as secularism, pluralism and democratic principles. It cautioned that association between university leadership and organisations identified with majoritarian ideological positions could create unease among students and the wider public.

The KSSP also referred to the controversy surrounding the RSS-backed ‘Gyan Sabha Education Summit’ held in Kochi in July 2025, which had similarly attracted criticism owing to the participation of Vice Chancellors from some universities.

Systematic effort

The Confederation of University Employees Organisations, Kerala (CUEO), accused the Sangh Parivar of pursuing a systematic effort to “saffronise” Kerala’s higher education institutions. The organisation alleged that universities across the State were increasingly being subjected to ideological intervention through appointments and administrative decisions. The confederation particularly highlighted developments at Mahatma Gandhi University, and alleged that established conventions were overlooked in the appointment of a Vice Chancellor in-charge. Besides, the administrative decisions reflected the influence of Sangh Parivar interests. It also criticised the purported growing political interference in university affairs and accused the State government of facilitating the implementation of education policies promoted by the Centre.