PM Narendra Modi takes the first ride on Kochi Metro along with CM Pinarayi Vijayan, governor P. Sathasivam and BJP Kerala chief Kummanam Rajasekharan Kochi: Kerala BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, who was attacked by political opponents and social media trolls for traveling with prime minister Narendra Modi in Kochi Metro's first ride, has come out with a clarification.
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Rubbishing allegations of protocol violation, Kummanam said he traveled with PM Modi as he was invited for the maiden ride.
"The Kerala police and the special protection group (SPG) of the prime minister had informed me that my name was on the list of invitees. It was the Kerala government that provided me the vehicle to travel along with the prime minister's convoy," he said.
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Kummanam said he had not requested anyone to include his name on the list.
Kummanam also lashed out at state tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran who cited his ride with Modi as a breach of security. The BJP leader said the minister should not become a puppet in the hands of those who want to take the shine off the event.
Kummanam said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan should be held responsible for the security failure, if there was any.
Kummanam, along with Pinarayi, governor P. Sathasivam and union minister Venkaiah Naidu, traveled with Modi in the first ride of the Kochi Metro rail project, which was launched here on Saturday.
Soon after the reports of the first ride were out, social media platforms were flooded with trolls which said Kummanam and the BJP were occupying spaces they did not deserve.
