NE NEWS SERVICE
UDHAGAMANDALAM, FEB 7
Days after getting flak from several netizens who have called the minister’s behaviour casteist and shameful, State Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan expressed his regret to the family of a tribal boy, who had unbuckled his slipper at the Theppakkadu Elephant Rejuvenation Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Nilgiri district on Thursday.
The boy along with the parents and the villagers were brought to Tamizhagam guest house in Udhagamandalam to meet the minister.
The villagers were with the minister for an hour. The minister expressed regret for his action and received petitions from the villagers. He also assured to sanction a pension to the family and also promised to get a job for a family member. The boy’s mother said that they would withdraw the complaint against the minister lodged with the Masinagudi police station.
While addressing the media, the minister said he had expressed his “regret.” He added that the villagers had submitted a list of demands that they had with them for improvement of their lives in Theppakadu.
When this minister can't even bend his body to remove the footwear on his own, he should avoid wearing those with buckles. While leaving home, the menial staff would have helped him wear them & so in a public place he thinks nothing wrong in asking a child to remove it for him.🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/oMYenGkZ5h
— Mohamed Imranullah S (@imranhindu) February 6, 2020