Thrissur: Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi on Friday said that the recent changes in Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's public stance reflect his growing awareness of the people’s interests. He added that any move to join the BJP would have to be Tharoor’s own decision.

Responding to reporters' queries regarding Bharat Mata-related row between Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the LDF government, Thrissur MP said that worshipping Bharat Mata was akin to worshipping the goddess Earth.

On queries regarding whether Tharoor would join the BJP, the union minister said that he cannot act as a "catalyst" for it as the Congress MP has to decide whether he wants to join the saffron party.

When he was asked whether there was any change in Tharoor's stance, Gopi said that it was not a mere change.

"It was a necessity desired by the people. It is a change that has come from understanding the people's interests," the BJP leader said.

Regarding the practice of appointment of personal staff by the ministers of the ruling government, Gopi said that not only did he disagree with it, he was totally opposed to it.

He contended that while various other pensions were not being paid, those appointed as personal staff for a couple of years were getting all kinds of benefits and huge salaries, which was "wrong".

"That is wrong. Let them (personal staff) be paid salaries for their work. But giving them all the other benefits, that should be banned," Gopi said. PTI