'Deleted video not under chief minister's request'; Minister O J Janeesh clears air

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister O J Janeesh clarified the issue over his deleting the social media video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah being waved black flags by Youth Congress activists. The sports minister denied rumours that it was at the request of the chief minister that he took down the video. He clarified in a Facebook post that media reports suggesting otherwise were factually incorrect.

"The post was not withdrawn at the Chief Minister's request; it was published by my social media admin team. Although the video was shared on my account in my capacity as Youth Congress President, my office advised removing it because the post appearing under the name of a state minister could lead to misunderstandings.

I was late to know that the issue turned into a big debate on social media. The protest involving the waving of black flags at the Union Minister was conducted in accordance with a general decision made by the Youth Congress All-India Committee,” said Janeesh.

The Minister also urged the media to refrain from publishing reports that spread misconceptions. He described the Yuva Morcha's retaliatory move to wave black flags at Kerala ministers as an act of political bankruptcy.

Janeesh also mocked CPM and DYFI members who criticised him for withdrawing the post, remarking that the communist cadres must have been asleep—unaware of the Union Home Minister's visit to Kerala.