BJP's Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi has termed late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as 'Mother of India'. He also referred to former Kerala Chief Minister and Congress leader K Karunakaran as a brave administrator and famous Marxist leader of that state EK Nayanar as his 'political guru'.
According to an NDTV report, he paid his respects to the former Kerala Chief Minister at the Karunakaran Samadhi Murali Mandir on Saturday (June 15). He made these comments in response to the questions of journalists there.
Suresh won the Lok Sabha seat from the state of Kerala on a BJP ticket. Suresh Gopi won the Lok Sabha polls defeating Karunakaran's son and Congress leader Muralidharan. He contested the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. K Muralidharan was third in the April 26 polls.
Suresh Gopi said he had a close relationship with Karunakaran and his wife Kalyanikutty Amma, as well as Marxist leader Nayna and his wife Sarada, a teacher. He went to Naina's house in Kannur. On June 12, he met his family members and cemented the relationship.
Suresh Gopi said that he sees Indira Gandhi as 'Bharathinte Mathavu' (Mother of India). Karunakaran was in his eyes 'the Father of the Congress party in the state'.
Suresh Gopi praised the administrative skills of the veteran Congress leader (Karunakaran) turned actor-turned-politician. He called him a 'brave administrator' of his generation.