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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 23 (IANS) Former Union Minister and top BJP leader V Muraleedharan on Thursday strongly criticized the absence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan at the unveiling ceremony of the statue of former President KR Narayanan.
President Draupadi Murmu unveiled Narayanan’s statue at the Kerala Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, here on Thursday.
Muraleedharan said that his non-participation was not only an insult to the former President and the present President, but also an insult to the Dalit community.
Muraleedharan said, “The President’s visit to Kerala was scheduled well in advance and the Chief Minister could have adjusted his foreign trip accordingly. Satheesan deliberately decided not to attend despite being in Thiruvananthapuram and invited.”
“Congress has always been opposing the backward classes. The country has not forgotten Sonia Gandhi’s insult to President Draupadi Murmu. Is the attitude of the Chief Minister and the opposition leader towards the first citizens of the country because they come from the Dalit community?” Muraleedharan asked.
Muraleedharan further demanded that the Chief Minister and opposition leaders apologize to the Dalit community for this regrettable incident, stressing that it was a matter of both national and social honour.
Narayanan (1920–2005) was the 10th President of India and the first Dalit to hold the country’s highest constitutional post.
Born in Kerala, he rose from humble beginnings to become a distinguished diplomat, serving in the Indian Foreign Service, including ambassadorial postings to the US and China.
Elected Vice President in 1992, Narayanan assumed the presidency in 1997, gaining respect for his honesty, humility and commitment to social justice.
Known for his moral courage, he frequently spoke out on issues of inequality, human rights and government accountability, upholding constitutional values with authority and empathy.
–IANS
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