KUWJ condemns Suresh Gopi’s outburst at the media

Condemning Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi’s outburst at mediapersons outside the Kochi airport on Friday, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) said in a statement that the Minister should put an end to his hostility to the media and behave in a manner fitting to the position he holds. Asked about his reaction to the attack on Christians, including Malayali priests, at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Gopi lost his cool and responded harshly to presspersons.

The KUWJ, in a statement, said the Minister who views the people as “subjects” has much to learn about the basic structures and values of democracy.

“Any political leader who is aware of the essence of democracy would not speak to mediapersons the way Mr. Gopi did. Our only request to him is to not to stoop any further. He continues to be in the hangover of the action hero roles he essayed in films. His inability to respond sensibly to questions that the media pose at him are reflective of his failure to attain the required maturity of a Union Minister. The Minister should put an end to the clownery of pouring contempt at the media and making threatening statements aimed at them,” said the KUWJ statement.

The KUWJ said the incident at Kochi makes it clear that Mr. Gopi is not ready to heed to the voices of protests against the past behaviour of a similar vein on his part. The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president (Rajeev Chandrasekhar), who is also a media businessman, should try to correct the Minister in this respect, said the statement.