Kochi: Days after his now 'famous' forty winks at a flood relief camp at SB High School, Changanassery, Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam got a rap on the knuckle from BJP’s Malayalam mouthpiece 'Janmabhoomi' on Monday.
An editorial in the daily criticised the minister for taking a contrarian stand in the United Arab Emirates's relief fund controversy and posting a photo of him taking a nap inside a relief camp on August 21.
Kannanthanam became the subject of countless internet memes when a photo appeared on social media showing him sleeping on a mat in a relief camp at Changanassery, a flood-hit region. After being trolled on social media for self-promotion, he had later clarified that the photo was clicked and posted on Facebook by his staff.
Even the BJP leadership was stung by the bad press invited by the minister. 'Janmabhoomi' advised Kannanthanam to show restraint. The editorial added that he received more brickbats than bouquets for his 'misadventure'.
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The daily was also critical about the state government and the ruling CPM for the controversy over the central government’s refusal to accept financial aid from the UAE.
The daily also slammed Kannanthanam for taking a different stand from Centre on the UAE aid issue.
Earlier, Kannanthanam had told reporters that Kerala needed the UAE funds and he was in talks with his colleagues in the Union cabinet to remove any hurdles in the way of accepting the relief.
However, later the Centre stated that the country's policy doesn't allow it to accept the foreign aid.
The minister's FB post in which he was shown in deep slumber on a mat had drawn a lot of flak on social media.
Most of those who reacted online asked how a sleeping man can shoot his own pictures. The photos at the camp came close-on-the-heels of pictures of his visit to camps at Chengannur and Mavelikkara. The post triggered a volley of trolls with people posting photos with the hashtag 'Kannanthanamsleepingchallenge'.
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