THRISSUR: Dubbing them "vanaranmar" (a reference to the monkey warriors from ancient epics like the Ramayana), Union Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi urged politicians in Thrissur raising complaints about the voters list in the recent election to take their grievances to the Supreme Court.
He made these remarks to the press on Sunday after paying tributes at the Sakthan Thampuran statue. "The Election Commission will answer their questions. It's the Election Commission's responsibility to handle this. As a minister, I cannot respond," he said. "There were some 'vanaranmar' here who came up with questions. Let them approach the Supreme Court with it." Gopi said he is a minister, and he is delivering his responsibilities well.
It is for the first time that Gopi was responding to the allegations of voters' list manipulation charges against him in connection with the Lok Sabha polls last year.
Both UDF and LDF are alleging large-scale voters’ list tampering in the Thrissur Lok Sabha from where the actor won. Congress leaders have approached the police with a complaint while CPI leader and the LDF candidate VS Sunilkumar submitted his complaint to the State Chief Electoral Officer.
Later in the day, District Congress Committee (DCC) president Joseph Tajet came down heavily on Suresh Gopi over his vanara remarks, stating that the Congress party's culture does not permit them to respond in the same language.
While addressing a press conference here, he alleged that it has now become clear to everyone that Gopi manipulated the voters' list. Tajet charged that he was making such remarks now to cover up his faults and divert people's attention.
Stating that Gopi might have made the "vanara" remark by looking at the mirror, the Congress leader further said the party would not backtrack from its allegations against him at any cost.
"He has not opened his mouth so far about the allegations. Now, his reply was tantamount to insulting the entire people of Thrissur. It is regrettable. Congress cannot give a reply on the same lines, as it is a party which respects others," the leader added.
The Congress, last week, made fresh allegations against Gopi, accusing him of submitting a false declaration to be included in the voters' list for the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency during the 2024 general election.
The Congress has also filed a police complaint against the actor-turned-politician.
(With inputs from PTI)
