Kochi, March 11 The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Wednesday inaugurated one of the completed sections of NH-66, hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates it to the nation, in protest against the exclusion of state PWD Minister P A Mohammed Riyas from the Prime Minister's event.
Riyas is reportedly scheduled to hold a roadshow on one of the completed sections of the National Highway-66, which is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
The Thalappady-Chengala section of NH 66 was inaugurated by CPI(M) MLA C H Kunhambu.
Riyas's roadshow will be held on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass.
These two sections, which have been upgraded to six lanes and are already open to the public, were scheduled to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at 12:30 pm here.
According to government sources, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will not attend the event, although his name is included in the programme schedule. However, no specific reason was cited for his decision to skip the event.
State Ministers M B Rajesh and K Krishnankutty, who have been invited to the Prime Minister's event, also said they are not participating due to personal reasons.
In response to the Chief Minister and other ministers' decision, state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters that, according to protocol, Vijayan, being the head of the state, was invited to Modi's official event. If the Marxist veteran is aggrieved that his son-in-law (Minister Riyas) is not present, that is his problem.
"As head of the state, the CM was invited according to protocol. It is nowhere stated that the CM's son-in-law (Riyas) and other family members should also be invited. If they have a problem with it, so be it. That is what I have to say," the BJP leader said.
"It was for the CM to decide who should accompany him. Elections will be held in the state in about 30 days. The CPI(M) is trying to create a controversy now because they know that after 30 days, Vijayan will not be the CM and Riyas will not be a minister," Chandrasekhar said.
He further said that the CM was aware of the Prime Minister's visit 5-6 days in advance, and he did not say anything about who should be invited.
"Why didn't he say anything? This is all an attempt to create controversy. If you (CM) wanted a certain minister to accompany you, it should have been communicated to the Indian government in advance. Why didn't you do that? From what I know, the CM did not say anything to the Centre," the BJP state president claimed.