THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday publicly apologised to actor Mammootty, who was targeted by left-leaning social media users for allegedly disrespecting Wayanad CPM district secretary K Rafeek during a visit to the model township built for landslide victims last week.
At a government event in Thiruvananthapuram, the CM said the actor had visited the venue without informing the government or political parties. He said the actor had gone there with a good intention, and while visiting the houses, Rafeek joined him.
He said it was a personal talk and Mammootty may have made the remarks (to Rafeek) to avoid any controversy. “If the great Malayalam actor felt bad and thinks some CPM workers had any role in this (the cyber attack), I publicly apologise to him,” he said.
‘Actor should never have been insulted in such a manner’
“The actor should have never been insulted in such a manner,” Pinarayi said after laying the foundation stone of a multi-storey building at General Hospital. He also said it was unfortunate that CPM social media warriors attacked Mammootty aggressively. “Have they reached a point where they could not even identify Mammootty,” the CM wondered.
During his March 7 visit, Mammootty had told Rafeek not to accompany him as it might create an impression that he had come there on the party’s invite. Following this, a massive cyber attack was directed against the actor. Rafeek had clarified that Mammootty did not intentionally try to insult him, but had merely aired his concern that Rafeek’s presence at the event could be interpreted politically.