Union Minister Suresh Gopi (file) | Photo Credit: ANI
Journalists across Kerala will take to the streets on Tuesday (November 12, 2024) to protest against actor-turned-politician and Union Minister Suresh Gopi for his “disgusting behavior” towards arbitrators.
The alleged incident in which Mr. Gopi shouted at a television reporter who was demanding the Union Minister’s response on the Munambam land issue is the latest incident that has prompted the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) to call for Statewide protests on the day. KUWJ regional committees are also meeting on this day to condemn this incident.
The journalists’ union revealed that the Minister tried to “scold” a television reporter, who wanted an answer on a certain issue and even asked his bodyguard to record the incident with his mobile phone. A television channel has even suspected that the Minister even tried to threaten a journalist.
In a strongly worded letter, KUWJ State president KP Reji and general secretary Suresh Edappal alleged that the Union Minister “is yet to get rid of the hangover of his action movie stars” who are setting cinema halls on fire. Mr. Gopi should apologize to the Kerala community and mend his ways. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP will take steps to end the Union Minister’s “abhorrent behaviour”, they demanded.
The relationship between the Minister of Unions and journalists in Kerala, which turned sour with journalists opposing his methods of answering their questions, hit a snag when a female journalist filed a complaint with the police against the Union Minister a few months ago for allegedly making a request. his hand on her shoulder ignoring her objections to it. The Union Minister defended his action by calling it an “act of love.”
Later, he filed a complaint against Thrissur journalists for allegedly blocking his way and preventing the security forces from doing their job.
Repeated attempts to get a response from Mr Gopi failed. Sources close to him said that the Minister, who was leading the Indian delegation at the G7 meeting, was on his way to Italy to attend the conference.
Published – November 12, 2024 11:59 am IST