‘I never said AIIMS should go to Thrissur because I won from there’: Suresh Gopi

Alappuzha: Union Minister Suresh Gopi, on Tuesday clarified his stance on the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Kerala, saying he has not opposed any specific location, including Alappuzha. Speaking at a public event, the Thrissur MP stressed that his recent comments were a reiteration of his earlier position and not directed against anyone or any district.

"I have not said AIIMS should go to Thrissur as I won from there. I did not make any such promise," Gopi said, refuting allegations that he was lobbying for AIIMS to be shifted to his constituency.

He emphasized that the decision on the AIIMS location must be made in a way that benefits the entire state and contributes to the development of the chosen region. He also noted that the state government cannot unilaterally decide where the institution should be built based solely on land availability.

He further clarified a recent controversy surrounding his comments, which were interpreted as suggesting that if AIIMS is not established in Alappuzha, it should be sent to Tamil Nadu. According to the Minister, the remarks were in fact about a different project — the proposed Central Forensic Science Research Laboratory and Training Institute.

He claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had proposed setting up the forensic institute in Thrissur, but the state government responded that land was not available in the district and offered to allocate land elsewhere in Kerala. "So, I said that if they were so adamant about it, then the institute should go to M K Stalin. But it was deliberately misinterpreted to spread the lie that I wanted AIIMS to go to Tamil Nadu, if not set up in Alappuzha," he explained.