Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s alleged refusal of an elderly man’s request at a public event has snowballed into a political controversy in Kerala.
The actor-turned-politician, who is currently Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Tourism, held a series of meetings in his constituency Thrissur last week to identify local developmental issues. As part of this, on September 12, a 80-year-old man named Kochu Velayudhan sought assistance for construction of his dilapidated house.
In a video that has now gone viral, Velayudhan can be seen approaching Gopi with a written request to seek aid for construction of his house, which he says was damaged after a tree fell on the tiled house two years back.Velayudhan later told the media present at the event that he has been living in a temporary hut erected near the damaged house and that the minister had dismissed his request.
The incident saw a barrage of criticism and generated conversation as Gopi had built an image through his philanthropic activities. One of the reasons for Gopi’s win from the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat — the first parliamentary seat for the BJP in Kerala — was said to be the base he cultivated through social work he did over the years.
As the video did the rounds, CPI(M) leaders visited Velayudhan and offered to construct his house. In a facebook post on Sunday, CPI(M) Thrissur district secretary K V Abdul Khader said “the party will construct the house of Velaydhan, who was insulted by Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi by saying that accepting petitions was not his job”. Khader added the work for the house will begin the following day.
Recalling the incident, Velayudhan told reporters on Monday: “Gopi did not even accept the petition. He told me that it was not his job. It (house construction) is the job of the panchayat. He is a minister. I did not compel him. He should have at least accepted my paper,’’ he said. Gopu took to social media on Monday to explain his stand.
“There have been several reports and interpretations pertaining to denial of an application seeking aid for construction of a house. I found certain people use it for their personal political agenda. As a public servant, I have a clear understanding on what I can do and cannot. I do not make promises which cannot be fulfilled. It is not my style to give false promises to people,” he said on Facebook.
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“Housing is a state subject. Hence, a person cannot decide on such matters. The state government has to look into that. My attempts have also been to work within the confines of the system and deliver true achievements to the people,’’ he added.
Gopi said he was happy to see that another party has come forward to ensure a safe home for that family. “Even though it is politically motivated, they got a house because of me… Those who had been familiar with this (the plight of Velayudhan) for the last two years have now ventured out to provide a house because of me. People’s struggles, I believe, are for real solutions, not political games.”
