Union Minister Suresh Gopi, BJP’s inaugural Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, has referred to Indira Gandhi as the ‘mother of India’, according to reports. The actor-turned-politician also praised the late former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran as a ‘courageous administrator’, as per PTI.
Following his visit to the memorial ‘Murali Mandiram’ in Thrissur, Suresh Gopi, BJP’s MP from Kerala, referred to late former CMs K Karunakaran and EK Nayanar as his ‘political gurus’. Gopi won the Thrissur constituency by a significant margin of nearly 75,000 votes against CPI(M) candidate VS Sunilkumar, with Karunakaran’s son K Muraleedharan finishing third in the contest. Emphasizing that his remarks should not be politicized, Gopi stated that he visited the memorial to pay respects to his mentors, as reported by PTI. He also mentioned having personal connections with Karunakaran and his wife, Kalyanikutty Amma, akin to his relationship with EK Nayanar and Sarada Teacher.
Suresh Gopi Hails Indira Gandhi As ‘Mother of India’
Gopi, serving as the Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum, referred to India’s first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, as ‘Bharathathinte mathavu (mother of India)’, and labeled Karunakaran as the “father of the Congress party in the state”.
Gopi clarified that honoring Karunakaran with such a title was not meant to disrespect the founders or co-founders of the Congress in Kerala. He continued to praise Karunakaran, describing the late Congress leader as a “courageous administrator” of his era.
Following his swearing-in as a minister in the Narendra Modi government, there were speculations that Gopi might resign from his position. However, he categorically dismissed media reports suggesting that he was contemplating an ‘exit’ from the Narendra Modi-led government as ‘grossly incorrect’.
“A few media platforms are spreading the incorrect news that I am going to resign from the Council of Ministers of the Modi Government. This is grossly incorrect. It is a matter of pride for me to be in the Council of Ministers of the Modi Government and to represent the people of Kerala,” mentioned Gopi in a social media post.