New Delhi: Minister in the Kerala government P. Prasad on Thursday (June 5) boycotted a sapling plantation event in the state’s governor’s house in Thiruvananthapuram on the occasion of world environment day over floral tributes to a Bharat Mata portrait.Prasad boycotted the event after citing that Bharat Mata was associated mainly with the Rashtriya Swyayamsevak Sangh (RSS).“Such a ritual has never been part of official events at the Raj Bhawan [governor’s house]… It is against the Constitution. The governor’s office insisted on it. We are not against Bharat Mata…we often have children dressing up as Bharat Mata at government events and official Onam celebrations,” said Prasad, reported Hindustan Times.Prasad skipped the event and later planted saplings separately.“Will the photograph of Bharat Mata be complete only if she holds the RSS flag? Will it be complete only if she stands by a lion? The Raj Bhawan should never have become a platform for such adamant stands of the RSS,” said Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Binoy Viswam about the incident.The opposition Congress too supported the ruling Left government on the issue.“Raj Bhawan should never become a stage for such events and actions. It is the office of the head of state. We raised the issue when Gurumurthy was invited to the governor’s house,” said opposition Congress leader V.D. Satheesan.Speaking on the issue, Governor Rajendra Arlekar said his office cannot remove the photo of Bharat Mata.“I was told that a minister wanted the photo of Bharat Mata removed from the dais. I said we will do everything possible but we cannot remove (the photo of ) Bharat Mata. These are ideals for which we are living and we cannot do away with these. That was probably the reason why both ministers have not come here. I don’t know what sort of thinking we have in our minds,” said Arlekar.