'I did not storm into police station and order policeman to salute me'; Suresh Gopi about salute controversy

THRISSUR: BJP MP Suresh Gopi has once again opened up about the 'salute' controversy. He said that he had visited Puthoor at that time in order to bring to the notice of the authorities the need to cut down the trees that were threatening the people of the area.

"Instead of bringing the threat of trees to the attention of society, social media created a controversy by showing that I ordered a policeman to salute me. I had called the police officer and asked him why the tree was not removed. However, the essence of the topic raised by me was lost when social media reported the incident by showing that I demanded a salute from the officer. I never stormed into the police station and order the policeman to salute me, he said," he said.

The incident took place while Suresh Gopi was visiting the cyclone-hit areas of Puthoor panchayat. A controversy erupted when Suresh Gopi asked probationary SI Antony of Ollur station to salute him during the visit.