Mata Amritanandamayi a personality respected by the world; Minister Saji Cherian questions controversy regarding kissing Amma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Saji Cherian has responded to the controversy that arose after meeting Mata Amritanandamayi. The minister asked what was wrong with kissing her. "25 years ago, Amritanandamayi went to the United Nations and gave a speech in Malayalam. She comes from a very backward background. The cultural department honoured her," the minister clarified. Saji Cherian was talking at the inauguration of the Municipality Library in Kayamkulam.

"What did she do wrong? She does a lot of good things. We respected her. Doesn't mother kiss everyone? She kissed me too. I saw it as if my mother was kissing me. I didn't see beyond that. I put a shawl on Amma and kissed her. Many people couldn't stand the fact that I kissed someone in my mother's position. I didn't go to become a devotee. Whether she is a god or not is none of my business. None of us has said that she is a god. She is a personality to be respected. That is what the state government did. If they say that everyone can fall into her embrace but we can't, then let them keep that thought to themselves," said Saji Cherian.