{
  "id": 565728,
  "title": "Vande Mataram, Savarkar quiz: Kerala government faces ‘RSS agenda’ charge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/vande-mataram-savarkar-quiz-kerala-government-faces-rss-agenda-charge",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T12:45:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kerala-udf-cpim-rss-agenda-vande-mataram-savarkar-iuml-v-d-satheesan-10828463/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala finds itself on the defensive after the Opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) accuses them of implementing the Sangh Parivar agenda. Several decisions under the Waqf, Local Self Government (LSG), and General Education departments, all under the IUML, have been under scrutiny. The IUML played a key role in the UDF's victory in recent Assembly elections by campaigning against another LDF government allowing BJP to rise in Kerala. The UDF government seeks Central funds previously rejected or delayed by the LDF government, citing ideological differences.\n\nOne recent controversy concerns a directive from the Chief Secretary requiring Vande Mataram to be sung in full during Independence Day celebrations. The General Education and Local Self Government departments are responsible for the full rendition of the song. The government has yet to clarify the directive, while conflicting statements have arisen within the cabinet. The controversy coincides with a quiz for lower primary school students in Kasaragod, which included a question about V.D. Savarkar. The question sparked protests from the Left, leading to an inquiry and the suspension of a schoolteacher who drafted the question paper.\n\nThe CPI(M) has used these controversies to criticize the UDF government's alleged subservience to the RSS. The government's acceptance of Central funds for various schemes, such as PM SHRI and PMAY, has also been a point of contention. The reconstitution of the Waqf Board provides another flashpoint, as the government plans to include non-Muslim members on the board, as mandated by amendments to the Waqf law made by the Union government.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}