Pinarayi takes a flyover jibe at Union minister. So insecure? asks Jaishankar

 S Jaishankar, Pinarayi Vijayan
S Jaishankar, Pinarayi Vijayan. Photo: File/Manorama

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday took a dig at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is touring the state. Vijayan took a potshot at Jaishankar for inspecting a flyover in the capital city, saying the real intention behind his visit was evident. The chief minister was hinting that the Union minister's Kerala visit was with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Jaishankar hit back at Vijayan, saying that "people should not be so insecure."

"When it is said that a minister who is entrusted to have a look at the world affairs went to inspect the flyover at Kazhakuttom, the people of the state can understand the real intension behind it. We should realise that it was not just to have a look at the flyover," Vijayan said, addressing a local programme in Thiruvananthapuram. The external affairs minister had recently inspected the Kazhakuttom flyover on the National Highway-66 which is under construction.

After 10-18 months, election would be held across the country and it was heard that the responsibility to ensue the victory of the BJP candidate in this Lok Sabha seat was entrusted to Jaishankar, the CM said with a smile.

Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat is represented by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who registered his hat-trick win from the constituency in 2019.

People should not be so insecure: Jaishankar

Hours after Vijayan criticised that the external affairs minister's Kerala visit was with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls to be held in 2024, Jaishankar responded by saying that he undertook a tour to the southern state to get a good understanding on what is happening on the ground.

"If getting a good understanding on what is happening on the ground is politically motivated, then I think my political motivation and his may be different", Jaishankar said responding to a query in a meet-the-press programme organised by the press club and journalists' union here.

Asked about the CM's comment that his visit was a politically motivated one, Jaishankar said "People should not be so insecure".

The Union minister said in a democracy everybody has a right to do politics and his engagements were also devoted to monitoring, to assessing and to learning from various initiatives Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken for the betterment of the country.

"Maybe you can read politics if some colony is connected with water. Maybe you can read politics because somebody's house is being made or electricity is being given or during COVID we provided food and resources to the people. We call it development, if other people want to call it politics, that is their privilege," said Jaishankar.

Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to the southern state since Sunday, had said that the reason for his visit to Kerala was "several" when the reporters asked. He said he wanted to spend time with his party colleagues here and understand how they are doing and what is happening here.

(With inputs from PTI)

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