Kerala minister Sivankutty alleges Raj Bhavan behind ABVP protests

As the row between Kerala Governor and the state government over the Raj Bhavan's use of the portrait of Bharat Mata sitting astride a lion and holding a saffron flag escalates, general education minister V Sivankutty on Sunday alleged that the protests against him by the BJP's youth and student groups over the Bharat Mata issue were aimed at causing riots and that those were carried out on instructions of the Raj Bhavan.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, Sivankutty said in the last couple of days after he walked out of a programme at the Raj Bhavan over the image of 'Bharat Mata with a saffron flag', he has been attacked and his travels obstructed by BJP's youth and student groups.

Sivankutty said he has the right to protest against the actions of the Governor at the Raj Bhavan, as a minister, MLA and a citizen. Following this, the BJP youth wing Yuva Morcha and ABVP attacked him and obstructed his vehicle at various places in the state in the last two days.