Cultural Minister skips felicitation of BJP president Kummanam
Kerala Cultural Minister did not turn up to present this year’s Karmashrestta Puraskkaram, instituted by Neyyattinkara Thunjan Bhakthiprasthana Padana Kendram, to senior Congress leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, despite his earlier consent to do the same, thanks to the simple reason: BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan was expected to be present on the dais. Kummanam was the awardee last year, but he was unable to receive the award due to tight schedules with respect to Assembly elections. Hence he was supposed to be presented the award along with Thennala. The Kendram general secretary K Ranganathan alleged that the Minister had agreed to participate in the programme when they invited him at his office and when they met him again with the printed invitation. But he refused to participate few hours before the programme. The reason he raised was ridiculous: He cannot share the dais with an extremist like Kummanam and present him an award! A man who introduced himself as the Minister’s additional private secretary called the office bearers and informed the new stand. The Kendram abandoned the award distribution ceremony in protest against the minister’s unjustifiable stand.
BJP spokesperson MS Kumar expressed the party’s strong protest in this regard. He said, Balan does not deserve to continue as a Minister. He should state if his office is a messy one and anyone can use the office phone. If the Minister does not subscribe to the view of the personal staff, he should expel him from the office. Ramganathan, the office bearer of the Kendram, who came out with the allegation against the minister is not a BJP man but an LDF worker. It adds to the seriousness of the allegation.
Kummanam told the reporters that the government should arrest him if they think that he was an extremist. The Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and several ministers of the former LDF government led by VS Achuthanandan, did not see anything wrong when they shared the dais with Abul Nasr Al Madani when he was let free after years’ long incarceration in Coimbatore jail as an accused in the infamous Coimbatore blast case of 1998 which allegedly targeted LK Advani. And, CPM minister once again proved that they are keen to appease the minorities and
ridicule Hindus.
—T Satisan, Kochi
CPM denounces LDF govt’s poor performance The CPM state secretariat met in Thiruvananthapuram is reported to have denounced the state government’s poor performance; major allegations are against home and vigilance departments. CM Pianarayi’s autocratic style is being denounced too. Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury who participated in the meeting is also reported to have accused the government in tough language for its failure in translating the promises projected in the election manifesto into action. |
