Union Minister Suresh Gopi dares Kerala govt to seek CBI probe into Thrissur Pooram
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Amid controversy over his use of an ambulance to reach the Thrissur Pooram venue after hearing that the festival was disrupted, Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Thursday detailed the sequence of events leading to the incident and demanded a CBI probe into the entire episode.
Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, while not refuting the allegations that he reached the festival site in an ambulance, claimed that he reached close to the festival site in his car, which was then attacked by some 'goondas' of the rival political parties.
The Union MoS claimed that he was rescued from there by some youngsters who put him in an ambulance which was there at the festival site to cater to those in distress.
"I do not need to explain it further. Let the CBI come and investigate. Do they have the courage to bring the CBI. Their entire politics will go up in flames if it happens. You want the truth to come out, bring the CBI," he said.
He further claimed that all these issues were being created to hide financial frauds like the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam.
Gopi had earlier refuted the claims, including by some BJP leaders, that he had reached the festival venue in an ambulance.
Hitting back at the Union Minister, the CPI -- a key ally of the ruling CPI(M) in the state -- claimed that Gopi misused an ambulance for political gains.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said that ambulances were meant for emergencies and to use them for political gains or for any other purpose was a "misuse".
"In this case, the misuse was done by then BJP candidate and current MP Suresh Gopi. Even various BJP leaders admitted that he was taken to the Pooram venue by ambulance.
"They projected it as an indication of their competence. Its beneficiary was Suresh Gopi. So, he may have things to hide and will say such dialogues," he contended.
The Thrissur Pooram disruption row has triggered a political debate in the state after Chief Minister Vijayan stated that the festival and the other rituals were not disrupted.
Congress and the Left ally CPI have alleged that the Pooram was purportedly disrupted to help the BJP win the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat by evoking Hindu sentiment.
There were police interventions in the Thrissur Pooram rituals and the subsequent controversies took the sheen off the annual spectacle held in April this year.
For the first time in the history of the festival, the display of fireworks, one of the major attractions of the event, which was scheduled in the early hours, was held in broad daylight the next day, which turned out to be a disappointment for the festival buffs.
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Nikhil Kumaraswamy gets emotional during election rally, alleges Cong conspiracy in previous defeats
Ramanagara: JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy said that he didn't know what wrong he had done to deserve two consecutive defeats in elections. He didn't know if his bad luck was the result of being the grandson of a former PM and the son of a former CM, he said. He was addressing a campaign rally in Kannamangala near Ramanagara on Thursday.
"I bore the brunt of Congress instigated conspiracy in two consecutive elections. I fell a prey for this conspiracy despite people voting in my favour. I am in a lot of pain. Today, I have competed in this election to respect the wishes of our party workers. Please make this youth win this time", Nikhil Kumaraswamy emotionally appealed to the gathering.
Shedding tears, the young JDS leader said that he was touring across the state to strengthen the party. "I want to connect with the last man in the party. It is very difficult to build a regional party. We are still standing because of your blessings", he added.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy said that Channapattana constituency was of high importance in the state by-elections as it was where his father, H D Kumaraswamy, had competed. "I am visiting each and every village. I make a humble request for your full co-operation and faith. Channapattana has seen a lot of development during the time of Deve Gowdaji and Kumaranna", he stated.
