‘Sports minister has no knowledge; he should resign and find another job’: M.M. Mani criticises O.J. Jeneesh

IDUKKI: Senior CPM leader M.M. Mani has strongly criticised Sports Minister O.J. Jeneesh, saying the minister lacks knowledge of the department and should resign if he is unable to do the job.

“The Sports Minister has no knowledge. If he does not know how to do this job, he should resign and stay at home,” Mani said. He added that anyone who takes up a ministerial position should perform their responsibilities properly instead of giving excuses.

Mani also strongly criticised Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph over the power crisis in the state. He said those in charge of the Electricity Department should have a clear vision and long-term perspective.

“Even when there is normal rainfall, the state can generate only 40 per cent of the electricity it needs. The remaining 60 per cent was purchased from other states by paying the required price and supplied to households without disruption during the LDF government’s tenure as well,” he said.

Mani also said the Forest Department and forest officials should shoot and kill wild animals, including aggressive wild elephants, that pose a threat to people.

“What else should be done with animals that kill people?” he asked. “Anything that threatens the lives and property of people must be dealt with. Only after that should we talk about love for animals.”

He criticised wildlife activists who, according to him, speak in support of wild animals while sitting in air-conditioned rooms in Thiruvananthapuram.

“They do not see the suffering of poor people here,” Mani alleged.

Asked about the strong protests by Congress workers when the wild elephant Arikomban was captured and moved from the area, Mani said, “Arikomban was like the Congress’s own father-in-law.”

He also warned that if the government failed to take action, local residents could organise themselves and resort to killing wild animals, which could later create law and order problems.