'You can keep crying over it, but the reels will go on': Minister Riyas

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Public Works Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas has announced that the use of social media reels to communicate development initiatives to the public will continue, despite criticism from opposition parties.

The minister’s remarks come in the wake of growing backlash over alleged shortcomings in the construction of National Highway 66. Speaking on the matter, Riyas asserted that the decision to use social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to highlight government activities is in line with party directives.

“The party has encouraged ministers to utilise social media to share their work with the people. The fact that these reels are being well received by the public seems to discomfort those who oppose us. Regardless of criticism, we will continue posting them,” the minister said.

Riyas also reiterated that the state government had already clarified its role in the National Highway 66 construction project. “Both the Congress and the BJP have chosen not to acknowledge the facts for political reasons,” he said. Referring to the recent collapse of a segment of the roads, he called the opposition’s reaction a politically motivated attempt to stall the project and mislead the public.

“This is a challenge to the people themselves,” Riyas stated, referring to efforts to politicise the incident. He assured that necessary corrective measures would be taken following consultations with technical experts from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). “We will move forward after addressing the issues and reviewing the expert report,” he added in a statement released via his official Facebook page.