The statement of Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Tuesday has kicked up a row, especially his criticism about the way the media handled the recent sexual harassment allegations in the film world.
Gopi said, "The complaints are in the form of allegations now. What are you telling people? Are you the court? You are not. The court will decide. Let the court decide." He had attacked the media before that, accusing them of misguiding people and making money.
Following Gopi's remarks, state BJP president K Surendran publicly differed with Gopi's view and said that party's stand was that Mukesh should resign. "Party is what the party leadership decides," Surendran said speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
It was at this juncture that tensions started to rise when reporters sought a reaction from Gopi about the Surendran comments. Gopi is said to have pushed away some reporters and said, "what is this? My way is my right. Please." He then went into his official vehicle and left without answering more questions.
Earlier in the day, Gopi had termed the charges "food" for the media, saying, "You can use it to make money. There is no problem with that. But these issues are before the court, and it has the intelligence and logic to arrive at a decision regarding them."
Gopi's remarks came a day after the Yuva Morcha marched to Mukesh's house in Kollam and days after the report by Justice K Hema Committee on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry was made public which resulted in a fresh set of allegations and demands for action against the guilty. The Kerala government has since declared a seven-member special investigating team on these issues.
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