Rebuff an insult to people: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday said the decision to exclude him from the function of unveiling of former Chief Minister R Sankar’s statue at Kollam by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a “painful experience” and an “insult” to people of the state.

Inviting a CM to attend the statue unveiling ceremony and then asking him to keep away is an insult to the people of the state, Chandy said in a Facebook post. “PM is coming to the state for the first time after assuming office. R Sankar is a former Chief Minister and late Congress leader. As per protocol and basic courtesies, Kerala Chief Minister should have been attending the function,” he said.

Chandy said: “I have always tried to keep myself away from controversies, but they have always followed me in an unexpected manner. The latest being withdrawal of invite to attend the statue unveiling ceremony of R Sankar at Kollam.” Until his death, Sankar was a Congressman and, during difficult situations, had led the party and protected party interests, he said.

“How will a statue unveiling ceremony of a leader who had led the SNDP and SN Trust become the BJP’s party programme?” he asked, adding that he was happy that “strong reactions have emanated from various quarters against attempts to convert the event into a Sangh Parivar event”.  Chandy said whatever controversies erupt, “PM, who is on a maiden visit to the state after assuming office, will be welcomed keeping in mind the state’s cultural and traditional values. To honour the country’s Prime Minister, by upholding democratic values, is our duty. All courtesies will be shown to him and during the two-day programme we will use this as an opporutnity to raise the issues of the state with the PM.”