After CPIM-led Kerala authorities took a powerful objection to ‘pada pooja’ (foot-washing ceremony) held at numerous CBSE-affiliated faculties run by Bharatheeya Vidyanikethan (BVN), Governor Rajendra Arlekar stated “guru pooja is a part of our tradition”.
On Thursday marking the Guru Purnima (Vyasa Jayanti) celebrations, faculties run by Sangh Parivar-backed trusts carried out ‘pada pooja’, through which college students had been requested to clean the toes of the lecturers and provide flowers at their toes.
The visuals of scholars washing the toes of lecturers led to protests within the state.
Common Training Minister V Sivankutty directed the Director Common of Training to probe the incident. Sivankutty stated the ‘pada pooja’ was in opposition to democratic values.