Kerala minister Saji Cheriyan tenders apology for controversial remark

Kerala cultural affairs minister and CPiM leader Saji Cheriyan has rendered apology over his controversial remark that was widely accused as communally toned.

Cheriyan said in an official statement on Wednesday that even as his statement was twisted, he was tendering an apology as it caused pain to some sections.

Cheriyan's apology came in view of widespread criticism over his recent statement that the names of candidates who won elections in Kasaragod and Malappuram districts would reveal the vote consolidations happening in Kerala. It was widely accused as a remark targeting Muslim community which has dominance in the two districts.

Apart from leaders of the Congress-led United Democratic Front, various Muslim forums also accused the minister of triggering communalism for electoral gains. Congress also filed a police petition against the minister and also demanded the minister's resignation.

The minister's apology is also learnt to be the outcome of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's intervention as some coalition partners of the ruling Left Democratic Front also expressed dissatisfaction over Cheriyan's statement.

In the apology issued in his official letterhead, the minister said that he was hurt by the baseless campaign against him over the statement.

“In my political career spanning 42 years I never compromised my secular credentials and never supported communalism. Hence the misleading campaign against me was hurting me. Since the misleading campaign seems to have hurt some sections and community leaders, I tender an apology,” the minister said.