‘I’m only 37; I have no intention of adopting a thantha vibe’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister O J Janeesh stepped forward responding to the controversy surrounding the foreign trips of ministers. The minister said that their visits were not like the ones undertaken by the opposition and that there was no need to make them controversial. He added that he is only 37 years old and has no intention of giving off a thantha vibe.

‘We do not travel the way the opposition does and that is why there is criticism. The opposition travelled with their wives and daughters. I have made only two visits. The first was to attend a district-level programme of GDPs in Thrissur and the second was to Qatar.

Wherever there are Malayalees in the world, they naturally invite their elected representatives to visit them. When they invite us with affection, we decide to visit them depending on the time and circumstances.

In both trips, I met the ambassadors there. Before travelling to Qatar, mothers from Malappuram and other places came to me with petitions. They said that their children were imprisoned there and requested that they be released. I received petitions seeking the release of around 32 expatriates Malayalees. I only took steps to hand them over in accordance with protocol.

There is no need to make those trips controversial. No minister is entitled to private moments. What century are you living in. Everyone should remain positive by taking a short trip occasionally amid their continuous work. We can take an occasional short trip without using taxpayers’ money in a way that brings a bad name to the government. I did not travel at the government’s expense,’ he said.