Kochi: CPI chief Kanan Rajendran came down heavily on cultural minister AK Balan saying that the minister had no right to direct the academy to review the jury’s decision.
The cartoon academy cannot function according to the whims of the government, he said.
The decision of the academy, which selected the cartoon for the prestigious award, must be honoured, he said.
What significance does the academy and jury have should the minister want the award be reviewed.
The cartoon row has not let up yet since the jury picked up for the prestigious award KK Subhash’s controversial cartoon alluding to the rape case of Franco Mullakal.
Kerala government had asked Academy to review the jury decision following the cartoon drew flak for hurting religious sentiments.