Chandy writes to Modi, says PMO didn’t intervene to avoid statue unveiling row

Chandy said all political parties, except BJP and media, have stated the incident as an insult to the people of Kerala.

He said Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy had misled the Parliament in their reply to the adjournment motion regarding his exclusion from the function. “They have not verified the facts from the Chief Minister or his office.”

“I am sorry that widespread controversy has arisen in connection with my absence in the programme at Kollam,” said the letter.

Chandy said he was invited for the function by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, the organiser of the event. The invitation was accepted and plaque for the function was made ready showing the Chief Minister as the one who preside over it.

On December 11, Natesan informed the Chief Minister through Minister K Babu that he had intelligence report that there would be protest if Chandy attended the function. However, the state intelligence was unaware of any such report, said the letter to PM.

Again when Natesan wanted me to keep away from the function, Chandy said he had no other option but to abide by his request. This was conveyed to the PMO.

On December 12, the state protocol officer had informed the PMO that the Chief Minister would not be attending the function. “It had never said that my absence is due to my inconvenience as said by Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Parliament,” said Chandy, in his letter.

He said he didn’t know why the organisers had withdrawn the invitation extended to him. “After inviting me and including my name in the notice and plaque of the programme, Nadesan was forced to withdraw the invitation due to unknown reasons,” he said.

Click here to read full letter: