Lakkidi, Wayanad: Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam has courted controversy yet again, this time after he posted a photo of himself taken in front of martyred CRPF jawan Vasanthakumar's coffin.
The minister's Facebook post triggered a deluge of protests and criticisms from the online world with many condemning Kannanthanam for not showing propriety at a house that was in mourning.
Netizens flayed the Union Minister of State for Tourism for insulting the brave soldier from Kerala. They also slammed him for his 'fake show of love for soldiers' and 'political gimmicks'. As the protests mounted, the minister was forced to delete the photo from this Facebook.
This is not the first time that the minister from Kerala has been cornered over social media posts.
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 during last year's flood. 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.
An editorial in BJP's Malayalam mouthpiece, Janmabhoomi, criticised the minister for posting a photo of him taking a nap inside a relief camp on August 21, 2018. 'Janmabhoomi' advised Kannanthanam to show restraint. The editorial added that he received more brickbats than bouquets for his 'misadventure'.
Vasanthakumar was among the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district Thursday.
His body was cremated with full state honours at his native village in Wayanad on Saturday.
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