‘I don't make promises that I cannot keep’; House construction is state issue, says Suresh Gopi 

THRISSUR: Union Minister Suresh Gopi stepped forward with an explanation for not accepting an application from an elderly person requesting aid to construct a house. He responded that some are using the issue as a political agenda. Suresh Gopi clarified that as a public servant, he has a clear understanding of what can and cannot be done and that he does not make promises that cannot be kept.

House construction is a state issue. Therefore, such requests cannot be allowed or decided by one person alone. The state government should think about it, clarified the minister.

P T Kochu Velayudhan tried to submit the application to Suresh Gopi. Velayudhan had responded that the minister refused to accept his application and that it had pained him a lot. The CPM later promised to provide him a house.

Suresh Gopi's words
A clarification
Several news and interpretations had surfaced on the issue of rejecting an application that came to him requesting help to construct a house. It seems that some are using it for their own political agendas.

• As a public servant, I always have a clear idea of what I can and cannot do.
• I don’t make promises that I cannot keep. Giving false hopes to people is not my style.
• House construction is a state issue. Therefore, such requests cannot be sanctioned or decided by a person alone. The state government itself should think about it.
• My efforts have always been focused on working within the system and delivering real benefits to the people.
• Meantime, I am happy to see that through this incident, another party has come forward ensuring a safe house. Although it is politically motivated, he has got a house because of me... People have been watching this for the last two years, but now they have come forward to provide a house because of me...

I believe that in the struggles of the people, real solutions, not political games, have a place.