Union Minister Suresh Gopi is currently facing a wave of public scrutiny after an old Facebook post from 2019, in which he clearly advocated for extending the Kochi Metro to Thrissur, was unearthed by social media users. This discovery directly challenges his recent denial of ever making such a claim, leading to significant controversy.
During a recent ‘SG Coffee Times’ interaction held in Puthurkara, Thrissur, the Minister had attempted to clarify his position. He stated that his previous suggestions were limited to proposing a branch line from Angamaly that would extend through Paliyekkara to Coimbatore, along with another branch connecting Nattika, Thriprayar, Guruvayur, and Tanur.
However, the dated Facebook post, originally published on April 10, 2019, tells a different story entirely. In it, Mr. Gopi explicitly wrote: “Travel is the conquest of distance. The struggle to travel remains a daily headache for us. To solve the travel woes between Thrissur and Ernakulam, the Kochi Metro must be extended to Thrissur.” This stark contradiction has predictably ignited a firestorm of sarcastic and critical comments across various social media platforms.
In the same public interaction, Mr. Gopi also addressed the contentious issue of establishing an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Thrissur. He reiterated that he had never promised an AIIMS for Thrissur, explaining that his calls for the institution to be located in Alappuzha were driven by his observation of the “district’s decline under communism.”
“I am not driven by politics or regionalism,” the Minister asserted, emphasizing his consistency. “Even before I became an MP representing Thrissur, I had publicly stated that AIIMS should be established in Alappuzha. I am a man of my word and I never backtrack on what I say.”
Furthermore, in response to criticism regarding his earlier use of the word ‘praja’ (citizen), Mr. Gopi dismissed the backlash. He claimed that his political statements are being intentionally twisted by ‘hired writers,’ adding, “I am not intimidated by such tactics. My discussions have always revolved around long-standing issues that remain unresolved, and the public is perfectly capable of discerning the truth for themselves.”