A floral carpet, or “pookalam,” laid out at a temple in Kerala’s Kollam district has sparked controversy after 27 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists were booked by the police.

The incident took place at the Parthasarathy temple in Muthupilakk. According to temple committee member Mohanan, the carpet featured the RSS flag along with the words “Operation Sindoor” spelled out in flowers. The temple authorities say this act violated a 2023 Kerala High Court order that bans decorative items, including flags, near the temple premises—a move originally put in place to prevent clashes during festivals.

“To avoid conflicts, we had sought the court’s intervention, and it clearly prohibited any such displays near the temple. However, despite this, RSS activists laid a floral carpet with their flag and inscribed ‘Operation Sindoor’ right beside the temple committee’s own design. Since this was a violation and risked sparking violence, we filed a complaint,” said Asokan C, an office-bearer of the temple committee, speaking to PTI. He added that while the committee respects Operation Sindoor, this was not the way to honor it.

Following the complaint, Kerala Police registered a case against the 27 activists under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to disobedience of lawful orders, inciting riots, and criminal conspiracy. The FIR also mentioned that a flex board featuring Chhatrapati Shivaji was installed about 50 meters from the temple, allegedly to provoke tensions between rival political groups.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly condemned the police action, calling the case against the RSS activists “shocking.” BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned whether Kerala was being governed under Pakistan or Jamaat-e-Islami’s influence. He warned that if the FIR was not withdrawn immediately, the party would take legal action.

Chandrasekhar took to X (formerly Twitter) saying, “This is Kerala. It is a proud part of India. Yet, an FIR has been lodged for making a pookalam with the words ‘Operation Sindoor’ in it. Absolutely unacceptable!” He added that Operation Sindoor symbolizes the strength and valor of India’s armed forces, and targeting it legally is an insult to every soldier defending the nation.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya also criticized the police, accusing them of appeasing one section of society. “In Kerala’s Kollam district, police forced the removal of an Onam pookalam simply because it carried the words ‘Operation Sindoor.’ This isn’t Pakistan. This is Kerala under Left rule, where even flowers with patriotic messages are treated as a threat. All for appeasement of one section. And yet, the same Left never misses a chance to lecture the nation on free speech. Hypocrisy at its peak!” Malviya wrote on X.

The controversy highlights the continuing tensions around political symbolism and religious spaces in Kerala, especially during festival times when emotions run high.