Union Minister Suresh Gopi loses his cool before media over Hema panel report
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Trissur: Actor-turned-politician and Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi on Tuesday came down heavily on media for blowing up issues in Kerala's film world beleaguered with allegations about abuse of women in the film industry.
Facing mediapersons here, an visibly displeased Gopi said that the law will take its own course on the report submitted by the Hema Committee on the Malayalam film industry and blamed the media for "witch-hunting" and trying to "spoil an organised system".
Minister Gopi was in his constituency here in Kerala's Trissur when the media asked him about the report.
“Let the court decide on all such issues. You should ask me about issues at the appropriate place. When I come out from AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) office you should ask about such issues. When I come out from my office, you should ask me about my office and when I come out from my house, you should ask about that,” said Gopi.
“I know that the present issue is a feed for you and you can make money out of it. You are drinking blood by creating a fight. What you fail to realize is you are spoiling an organised system,” said Gopi as the media personnel kept asking him questions about the report.
While pressed for answers to questions on specific individuals involved in the filmdom scam with microphones held close to him, Gopi went to the extent of pushing them aside and claiming his way was his right, and said he was not prepared to answer,
“You (media) should understand that you are not the final word and not a court. The Court knows its job and let it do that. All that you hear now is mere allegations,” added Gopi.
As the reporters pestered him, the Minister, for a moment looked as if he was playing what he does best, playing the role of an angry character.
He lost his cool when he was asked about his AMMA colleague and two-time sitting CPI(M) legislator Mukesh who is facing flak after a former actress revealed how she was tormented by him years back at a shooting location.
He won the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency as a BJP candidate in the recently held general elections, a maiden victory for the party to the Lok Sabha.
The state BJP chief K Surendran however was quick to disown the remarks of Gopi; he said that the views expressed by Gopi were his personal views as an actor and not of the party which are to be spelt out by party leadership. The BJP's state leadership has been in the forefront of accusing the state government of inaction on the recommendations of the Justice Hema committee report.
(Based on IANS feed with minor edits)