'Public should say 'cut'...' Ganesh Kumar slams Suresh Gopi over airport row

Palakkad: Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar launched a strong criticism against Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Monday, in response to the latter's recent controversial remarks. Referring to Gopi’s outburst at journalists outside Kochi airport, Kumar said it is the public—and not anyone else—who should say “cut” to the actor-turned-politician.

Commenting on the incident, he stated, “I’m not the director to say ‘cut’ to Suresh Gopi. Action and reaction are personal choices. But in the end, it’s the public who should say, ‘Cut’.”

“A mistake by the people of Thrissur”

Continuing his criticism, Ganesh Kumar—who, like Gopi, also transitioned from acting to politics—said that the fault did not lie with Gopi, but with the voters who elected him.

“It was not his mistake but a mistake made by the people of Thrissur in choosing him,” Kumar said, taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Thrissur.

Gopi had reacted angrily to reporters when asked about the recent attack on Christians, including Malayali priests, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

“Now I can only pray that something good happens for the people of Thrissur,” Kumar added.

Mockery over ‘Commissioner’ days

Ganesh Kumar also mocked Gopi over his behaviour during the time his film 'Commissioner' was released around thirty years ago. In the film, Gopi played the role of a city police commissioner.

According to him, “When the movie 'Commissioner' was released, Suresh Gopi used to keep a police officer’s cap with ‘IPS’ written on it in the rear of his car. It was visible through the glass—as if he were actually an IPS officer. That tells you all you need to know.”

Neither Suresh Gopi nor the BJP has issued a response to the minister’s comments.

On ‘L2: Empuraan’ and cyberattacks

Speaking about the cyberattacks targeting the recently released Mohanlal-Prithviraj film 'L2: Empuraan', Kumar likened the online abuse to behaviour seen during the Emergency.

“While criticism is part of democracy, it shouldn’t take this form. The controversy surrounding Empuraan is unnecessary. At best, you can say the acting was good. But whatever is said now turns into a controversy,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP workers held a protest against the minister by waving black flags during the inauguration of an air-conditioned waiting lounge at the KSRTC bus stand in Palakkad. Protesters argued that a functional and clean public toilet was a more urgent need than a luxury waiting area.

PTI Inputs