Madhya Pradesh govt insulted Keralites, says Oommen Chandy

Kochi: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy has criticised the Madhya Pradesh government for preventing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from attending a public function in Bhopal on the ground that a group of alleged Sangh Parivar activists planned a blockade against him.  

Describing the incident as  unfortunate, Mr. Chandy said it was against the principles of democracy and federalism. “The MP government has insulted the people of Kerala by this action,” he added.  

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran,  however, kept  mum on the matter.       

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan blamed Mr Pinarayi for escalating the issue and trying to gain cheap publicity. “Pinarayi himself had cancelled the meeting despite the police informing him that he could proceed  to the meeting if he wished,”  Mr Kummanam said. After cancelling the meeting, he was now blaming the BJP and the RSS, he  said.