KPCC holds prayer meet in protest
Mr Chandy said it was Sankar who introduced widow pension, TB pension and old age pension.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leaders organised a prayer meeting before the statue of R. Sankar at Palayalam here on Tuesday in protest against excluding Chief Minister Oommen Chandy from the function in Kollam where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Sankar's statue.
Mr Chandy, who inaugurated the meeting, recalled the social service schemes initiated by Sankar and said his name should not be dragged into unnecessary controversies.
KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala flayed SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and the Sangh Parivar for hijacking the Kollam programme.
Mr Chandy said it was Sankar who introduced widow pension, TB pension and old age pension. He refrained from attacking the SNDP Yogam and Sangh Parivar and said "it is unfortunate that Sankar's name is being dragged into controversies. He lived for the welfare of the poor which is a source of inspiration and motivation to people like us," he said.
Sankar's children, Mohan Sankar, chairman of Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation, and Prof. Sasikumari attended the prayer meet.
Mr Sudheeran said, " Sankar had practised the values of Sree Narayana Guru. Also, he stood firm with an erect spine and head held high." Mr Chennithala said the SNDP Yogam would soon link Mahatma Gandhi with the RSS as it was trying to attach Sankar to the RSS stable.
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