Pinarayi Vijayan apologises to Mammootty over CPI(M)-linked social media assaults

As the problem changed into a political controversy, Mammootty on Sunday spoke to Rafeeq to clear the air. Rafeeq stated he had accompanied Mammootty throughout the go to solely with the intention of controlling the gang.

Addressing a public perform in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, Vijayan stated, “There was a marketing campaign that Mammootty has insulted (Rafeeq). Information had unfold that CPI(M)’s social media warriors had attacked Mammootty. May they not recognise Mammootty? Do they not know who Mammootty is? If Mammootty has skilled any psychological misery as a part of that social media marketing campaign, particularly whether it is believed that individuals related to the CPI(M) have been concerned, I’m publicly apologising to him,” stated Vijayan.

The Chief Minister has tendered the apology on behalf of the social gathering at a time when different leaders tried to do a balancing act on the controversy. It is usually uncommon for Vijayan to tender an apology on political controversies.
Vijayan stated Mammootty has a outstanding place amongst personalities who “stand firmly for goodness”.

“He had flown down from Chennai to Kozhikode and gone to Wayanad solely to go to the township. Why ought to that goodness be made an argument? He had not knowledgeable anybody about that go to. Due to this fact, it was with good intentions that he instructed the social gathering district secretary that the go to shouldn’t be interpreted another way. The district secretary is an individual who genuinely intervenes in points, however some individuals strolling round with cameras turned that non-public speak into an argument,” stated Vijayan.

The video of Mammootty’s interplay with Rafeeq quickly went viral, triggering a barrage of criticism towards the actor from social media handles related to CPI(M) supporters. They termed Mammootty’s feedback an insult to the CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary, who actively participated within the reduction and rescue efforts following the landslides.

Nonetheless, Rafeeq subsequently stated that Mammootty referred to as him later to make clear the state of affairs. He requested that Mammootty’s go to be “mentioned in a constructive method”.

Rafeeq had headed the DYFI’s volunteer drive throughout the rescue mission, and lots of social media handles stated Rafeeq has “each proper to be on the township”.

The problem put the CPI(M) in a troublesome spot because it sought to steadiness its response between the celebrity actor, who has been a chief visitor at a number of authorities capabilities lately, and the emotions of social gathering employees, who’ve put their weight behind the district secretary who rose via the ranks.

CPI(M) chief and Public Works Minister P A Muhammed Riyas stated Sunday that CPI(M) district secretaries are usually not individuals who barge into a spot and stand there uninvited. “He (Rafeeq) can be a social employee who has been energetic in all the effort [of rehabilitation in Wayanad]. Mammootty can be an individual who recognises all such individuals regardless of their politics,” Riyas stated.