THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Minister Muhammad Riyas has ridiculed the union ministers. He told the assembly that the Centre should be vigilant about the potholes on the national highways. Riyas criticized Union Minister V Muraleedharan without saying his name. The minister's response comes amid widespread complaints about the roads in the state.

‘Majority of the roads are maintained by national highways authority. There are many pits here. There is one who was born in Kerala, played and grew up here, became a Rajya Sabha member from another state and is now a union minister. He convenes press meets on most of the days. There are potholes on the national highways than the press meets he convenes.

Even when brought this to his notice, he paid no heed to resolve it. Now many union ministers are coming to Kerala and it is a good thing. However, they stand in front of the projects which are ready for inauguration, take a photo and then leave. These ministers should also count the potholes on the national highway,' said Riyas.