Times Now
New Delhi, Dec 3: It has been two days since the Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan made insensitive remarks about the slain commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who lost his life in the Mumbai terror attacks.
Achuthanandan spoke before the Kerala Assembly today amidst immense pressure to quit for his comments. He said that his comments were misinterpreted and that he was quoted out of context. He also categorically refused to apologise for his insult to slain Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s family.
He also went on to say that he is hurt and feels regret. He lashed out saying that instead of giving due importance to the Mumbai attacks, the media are giving more importance to this particular matter, blowing it out of proportion. Meanwhile, the opposition is asking the CM to issue an unconditional apology.
Achuthanandan had given a shocker of a reply to Unnikrishnan's father's outburst against him when he visited his house in Bangalore. The CM chose to say that not even a dog would have chosen to visit the house in any other context. "If it had not been (Major) Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have glanced that way," he had said.
On Nov 30, angry scenes were witnessed at slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's residence in Bangalore when the family shut the doors on the Kerala chief minister who went to meet them to offer condolences.
The Left has been facing the heat, as protests mounted in Kerala demanding that V S Achuthanandan be sacked. Outside the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday, effigies of the CM were burnt.
The Kerala CM had earlier also refused to admit that he was wrong, as he returned back to the state last night from Bangalore. He also refused to answer any questions posed to him by the media.
For the Left, V S Achuthanandan has become a huge embarrassment. The Left finds itself in an untenable position, forced to chastise a state CM and senior member of the Politburo for his loose comment.
Even as Achuthanandan evaded comments, his party received flak, and the CPM general Secretary, Prakash Karat was forced to apologise on his party man’s behalf.
Meanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said, "This is a very serious matter. I demand from the CPM to sack the CM."