Union Minister Suresh Gopi clarified his recent remarks about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stating that his reference to her as the “mother of India” was misinterpreted by the media. He explained that he had actually referred to her as the mother figure of the Congress party in India. Gopi, a former actor turned politician, emphasized that his comments were heartfelt and expressed his belief that there was nothing inappropriate in his statement.
Addressing reporters, Gopi questioned whether they understood the contextual nuances of language. He reiterated his sentiments, stating, “As far as the Congress is concerned… K Karunakaran is the father of the Congress party in Kerala. In India, its mother is Indira Gandhi. I said this from my heart.”
Despite the clarification, Gopi continued to praise Indira Gandhi, describing her as the primary architect of India during the post-independence era until her passing. He emphasized that his admiration for her transcended political affiliations.
Earlier, during a visit to the memorial of late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran in Thrissur, Gopi had also hailed Indira Gandhi as the “mother of India” and Karunakaran as a “courageous administrator”. He acknowledged both Karunakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar as his political mentors.
Gopi, who recently won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat for the BJP, marked the party’s maiden electoral success in Kerala.
