Twenty-seven Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers and supporters were booked in Kerala for putting a pookkalam, a floral arrangement traditionally made for Onam, shaped like the organisation’s saffron flag near a temple in Kollam district, The Indian Express reported on Sunday.

Police reportedly said that the arrangement was put along the Sree Parthasarathy Temple’s main pathway next to another pookkalam which read “Operation Sindoor”.

A first information report was registered following a complaint by the temple committee, which alleged that the pookkalam violated a 2023 Kerala High Court order banning the display of flags and installations associated with political parties and organisations near the temple, the Hindustan Times reported.

According to the Sastamcotta Deputy Superintendent of Police, warnings had been issued to political parties to comply with the High Court order. While other parties conducted Onam celebrations without political symbols, the RSS pookkalam displayed an image of its saffron flag, The News Minute reported.

The 27 persons have been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to disobeying orders lawfully promulgated by public servants, wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot and criminal act committed by several persons.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised the FIR, alleging that the action was taken for the use of the theme “Operation Sindoor”, The News Minute reported.

The RSS is the parent organisation of the BJP.

Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrashekhar demanded that the complaint against the RSS workers be withdrawn.

“It is for the first time in India that police are registering a case on charges of making an Onam pookkalam,” he said in a social media post. “Absolutely unacceptable!”

An office bearer of the temple committee, Asokan C, however, told PTI that the complaint was not against the use of words “Operation Sindoor” but the depiction of the RSS flag on the pookkalam.

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