"Be grateful," said Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian during a convention held to explain the SilverLine Project at Kozhuvallur in his constituency of Chengannur here on Saturday.
Cherian had come under fire recently after Congress MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan alleged that the SilverLine alignment was changed in Mulakkuzha panchayat, where the minister's house is situated.
It was in this context that Cherian reached out to his electorate in a speech that listed out the various developments his involvement had brought to the region.
The minister also reiterated that people with terrorist ideas were inciting the 'ill-informed' public.
"Why are you abusing me?" Cherian asked before issuing a warning to those who criticise Karuna Pain & Palliative Society that he chairs. "If anyone abuses Karuna nothing good will come for them," he said.
The minister even gave an account of his personal and family history saying his life was "an open book".
Cherian claimed that no one in the local panchayats of Kulanada and Venmony will be evicted even as he conceded that 67 houses will have to be fully removed and 47, partially, for the project.
"But 50,000 jobs will be created, 10,000 of those will be permanent jobs. If the people co-operate, Chengannur will become one of the biggest metropolitan cities in Kerala," he added.