Loudly proclaiming that Bharatiya culture, traditions, national flag, national anthem and song will be protected till the last Hindu is alive in Kerala, the RSS and its associated organisations organised massive programmes in every corner of Kerala, in which lakhs of people chanted the Vande Mataram, a fitting tribute to its writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Inaugurating the celebration at the Martyrs Column in Thiruvananthapuram, by lighting a lamp in front of a huge portrait of Bharat Mata and offering floral tributes, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram Director Padmashri P. Parameswaran said that on the issue of devotion to the nation and its sacred symbols, there would be no compromise. He said that, ?Those who don'trespect the nation, its flag and its symbols should leave the country.? RSS Sahprant Pracharak J. Nandakumar said that those who don'trespect the national anthem, song, flag etc. are a threat to the Constitution and law of the country and they should be tried for treason. BJP leader K. Raman Pillai thundered that Union Minister of State,
E. Ahmed of Muslim League should resign for stating that singing Vande Mataram should not be made mandatory. Leading Poet P. Narayana Kurup, journalist Hari S. Kartha, BJP leader B.K. Shekar, Yuva Morcha secretary Suresh, etc. spoke on the occasion. The meeting was presided by Hindu Aikya Vedi president J. Sisupalan. Thousands of people who had gathered there took pledge to protect Bharat Mata, its flag, Vande Mataram and national anthem.
