CPM Pledges House for Elderly Man After Union Minister Suresh Gopi Allegedly Rejects His Petition in Thrissur
Thrissur: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced its decision to construct a house for Kochu Velayudhan, an elderly man who was allegedly humiliated by Union Minister Suresh Gopi after his petition for housing assistance was reportedly rejected. K.V. Abdul Khader, the Thrissur District Secretary of the CPM, confirmed that the construction work for Velayudhan’s new home would commence in the immediate future.
The incident, which has since sparked considerable discussion, occurred during a ‘Culvert Friendly Development Dialogue’ organized under Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s leadership. The event, aimed at addressing public issues, took place recently in the Pullu and Chemmppilly areas of Thrissur district, ahead of the upcoming local body elections. During this dialogue, Kochu Velayudhan approached the minister with an application for housing aid enclosed in a cover. However, visuals circulating on social media showed Suresh Gopi returning the petition cover to the elderly man without opening or reading it, reportedly stating that “accepting petitions is not the MP’s job.” He also advised Velayudhan to approach the Panchayat instead.
Following the widespread circulation of these visuals and the subsequent criticism, Union Minister Suresh Gopi issued a clarification. He stated that housing construction primarily falls under the purview of the state government, and he does not make promises that cannot be fulfilled.
In response to the incident, the CPM swiftly intervened, with K.V. Abdul Khader visiting Kochu Velayudhan at his residence in Pullu. During this visit, Khader conveyed the party’s commitment to building a house for Velayudhan. In a detailed note, Khader reiterated that the CPM would undertake the construction for Kochu Velayudhan, who was “humiliated by Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi by returning his petition without even opening the cover, stating that ‘accepting petitions is not the MP’s job’.” The District Secretary emphasized that the party has given this assurance to Velayudhan on its behalf. The construction activities for Velayudhan’s house are expected to begin in the coming days, offering a ray of hope for the elderly man amidst the controversy.