CM Oommen Chandy said he had been requested to stay away from the function
CM Oommen Chandy said he had been requested to stay away from the function
With just 48 hours left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unveil R. Shankar’s statue in Kollam, a major controversy has erupted following the organisers asking chief minister Oommen Chandy to keep off the event.
In a statement, a pained Chandy said SNDP general secretary Vellapally Natesan had requested him over phone to cooperate by staying away from the function. The SNDP leader told him there was opposition from certain quarters against his participation. However, he didn’t disclose their identity. The PMO told the organisers that since the statue unveiling was a private function, the chief minister need not be present. There was no need to follow the protocol. It was Mr Vellapally who had invited the chief minister to preside over the statue unveiling event and the latter had agreed to participate in the function. Even the programme schedule had been printed and distributed among the guests.
But, the organisers informed that Mr Chandy’s presence was not required at the unveiling of the statue of the former chief minister and KPCC president.
Mr Chandy said he was duty bound to take part in the function. “As part of protocol and courtesy it was my responsibility to take part in a function being attended by the Prime Minister. But I am forced to take the decision to keep off following the change in the stand of organisers.”
