Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly Speaker N Sakthan has got embroiled in a controversy after his driver was seen helping him remove his footwear at a function at the Assembly complex.
The incident happened on Wednesday when he came to inaugurate harvesting of paddy on the Assembly campus. Before getting into the field, his driver was seen helping him removing the slippers.
The picture, which has gone viral, is drawing flak from various quarters.
Reacting to the incident, Speaker N. Sakthan later told reporters that he was pained after a picture in which an aide is seen removing the straps of his footwear went viral.
"I am deeply pained by the picture... For the past 18 years I am suffering from a very rare eye ailment and I have been advised as far as possible not to bend forward.”
"The person who is helping me is a close relative and one who looks after all my personal needs as I am unwell. He travels with me,” he said.
"I have been a legislator for 33 years. Anyone who knows me and my ailment would not have made this a big issue," said Sakthan.