Police in Kollam district registered a case against 27 RSS activists on Saturday for allegedly violating a Kerala High Court order by laying a floral carpet at Parthasarathy temple in Muthupilakkad during Onam celebrations, following a complaint from the temple committee.

The FIR, based on a report by committee office-bearer Asokan C, charges the group under sections 223 (disobeying public servant orders), 192 (provoking riots), and 3(5) (joint criminal acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The carpet, depicting the RSS flag and inscribed with "Operation Sindoor", was placed on the temple's main pathway, alongside a flex board of Chhatrapati Shivaji 50 metres away. Authorities claim it breached a 2023 High Court ban on unauthorised decorations, including flags and flex boards, to prevent clashes during festivals.

Temple committee member Mohanan explained that past flag-related confrontations prompted the court order, emphasising respect for "Operation Sindoor" but criticising the act as a deliberate violation that could incite riots. "We filed the complaint to avoid escalation," he told PTI.

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The BJP strongly condemned the police action, labelling it "shocking" and accusing the state government of anti-national bias. State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar demanded the FIR's immediate withdrawal, warning of legal recourse. "This is the first time a case has been filed over a floral carpet during Onam, our cultural festival," he said in a statement. He portrayed "Operation Sindoor" as a tribute to the armed forces' valour, arguing the charges insult national defenders and questioning if Kerala operates under external influences like Jamaat-e-Islami or Pakistan.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between religious traditions, political symbolism, and judicial directives in the state, with the BJP framing it as an assault on cultural expression.

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