"Tharoor's change is based on understanding will of people, Bharatamba controversy is to divert attention": Union Minister Suresh Gopi responds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister Suresh Gopi said that Shashi Tharoor is now showing a change that is in line with the will of the people. Suresh Gopi said that whether Tharoor will leave the Congress should be answered by Tharoor himself and that his decisions are based on his personal interests. Suresh Gopi said that Shashi Tharoor has been taking a stand in favour of nationalism for only a few days and that was not the case before that.

The Union Minister also responded to the Bharatamba controversy. 'What is happening now in the case of Bharatamba is a move to divert attention from bigger issues. It is the right of those who do it to offer flowers to the image of Bharatamba. The intention behind this is not to draw people's attention to bigger issues. Worshiping Bharatamba means worshiping Bhoomi Devi. That is all that is meant by this."

"I do not agree at all with paying pensions to ministers' personal staff. Not only that, I am also against it. Not even the pensions that should be given to the people are being paid properly. Ministers' staff should be paid a salary for work, but giving them pensions and benefits is not right. It should be banned," Suresh Gopi clarified.