New Delhi: Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) from Kerala staged a protest outside Parliament on Monday, voicing their strong condemnation of remarks made by Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, and BJP MP George Kurian. The protest was sparked by Gopi's controversial statements about "upper caste" handling tribal affairs and Kurian's comment referring to Kerala as a "backward state."

The MPs were seen carrying placards and shouting slogans as they gathered outside the Parliament premises. Their protest came in response to remarks made by Gopi during a BJP election campaign meeting in New Delhi, where he suggested that tribal welfare would only progress if members from the "upper castes" oversaw the tribal affairs portfolio. Gopi later backtracked on his statement, claiming that his words were made with good intentions and withdrawing them if found offensive.

"I did not label anyone as good or bad; my only aim was to break free from this framework," Gopi clarified, adding that his priority as a politician has always been the welfare of the tribal community. He also called for a shift in the traditional handling of tribal affairs, expressing hope that leaders from outside the tribal community would be appointed to the ministry for more effective welfare measures.

Meanwhile, the controversy over the remarks of George Kurian, who allegedly referred to Kerala as a "backward state," fueled further unrest among opposition MPs.