Union MoS Suresh Gopi Praises Indira Gandhi As 'Mother Of India' As He Pays Tribute To Political Mentors

Suresh Gopi's visit to Karunakaran's memorial comes in the wake of his electoral victory in Thrissur LS seat where he defeated K Muraleedharan, Karunakaran's son, who finished third in the contest.

Following his visit to the memorial, Gopi also visited the Lourde Mata Church in Thrissur to offer prayers.

Source : Facebook/SureshGopi

Union Minister and BJP leader Suresh Gopi on Wednesday referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as the "mother of India" and lauded the late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran as a "courageous administrator."

Speaking to reporters after visiting Karunakaran's memorial, "Murali Mandiram" in Punkunnam, Thrissur, Gopi emphasized his deep respect for both Karunakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar, whom he described as his "political gurus", as reported by PTI.

His visit to Karunakaran's memorial comes in the wake of his electoral victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, where he defeated K Muraleedharan, Karunakaran's son, who finished third in the triangular contest during the April 26 polls.

Addressing the media, Gopi urged journalists not to attribute any political motives to his visit, stating, "I came here to pay my respects to my 'guru'." He recounted his close personal relationships with Karunakaran and his wife, Kalyanikutty Amma, as well as with Nayanar and his wife, Sarada Teacher.

Gopi also highlighted his views on Indira Gandhi, calling her "bharathathinte mathavu" (mother of India), and described Karunakaran as the "father of the Congress party in the state." He clarified that this description was not intended to undermine the contributions of the founders or co-founders of the Congress in Kerala, but rather to honor Karunakaran's impactful leadership.

The actor-turned-politician praised Karunakaran's administrative capabilities, labeling him a "courageous administrator" of his generation. He also noted that although he had intended to visit Murali Mandiram in 2019, Padmaja Venugopal, Karunakaran's daughter who recently joined the BJP, had discouraged him due to political considerations, as per the report.

Following his visit to the memorial, Gopi also visited the Lourde Mata Church in Thrissur to offer prayers. He recalled how his political opponents had targeted him by alleging that the golden crown he presented to the idol of St. Mary during his daughter's marriage was actually made of copper.