‘I Don’t Make Unfulfillable Promises’: Suresh Gopi Responds to Housing Assistance Row
Thrissur: Union Minister Suresh Gopi has addressed recent reports alleging that he refused to accept a petition for housing assistance from an elderly man. In a statement posted on Facebook, Suresh Gopi asserted that some individuals are exploiting the incident to further their own political agendas.
“As a public servant, I always have a clear understanding of what I can and cannot do,” Gopi stated. “I do not make unfulfillable promises. Giving false hopes to people is not my style.” He further clarified that housing construction falls under the purview of state subjects, implying that such requests cannot be unilaterally granted or decided by an individual but require decisions from the state government.
The incident involves Kochuvelayudhan, an elderly man from Pullu, who reportedly attempted to submit a petition for housing assistance to Suresh Gopi. Following the public attention surrounding this event, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) recently announced its intention to construct a house for Kochuvelayudhan.
Suresh Gopi’s Facebook post provided further context and a “clarification” on the matter. He reiterated his stance against making commitments he cannot keep and highlighted his focus on working within the established system to deliver tangible benefits to the populace.
He expressed satisfaction that, as a result of the incident, another political party had stepped forward to ensure a secure home for the family. “Even if it has a political motive, at least they got a house because of me,” Gopi remarked, noting that people have been observing the situation for two years and that now, “even if it’s because of me, they have come forward to build a house for them.”
Concluding his statement, the Union Minister emphasized his belief that “in the struggles of the people, there is no place for political games, but for genuine solutions.” This response comes amidst ongoing public discussion and political commentary surrounding the plight of the elderly man and the role of public representatives in addressing such needs.