‘By desired people’: Union Minister Suresh Gopi Shashi Tharoor’s ‘Shift’; His BJP speaks on ‘entry’. Bharat News
New Delhi: Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi said on Friday that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor depended on whether he wanted to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that the changes seen in Tharoor were a result of “understanding the interests of the people”.Gopi, who has a portfolio of petroleum, natural gas and tourism, also commented that worshiping Bharat Mata was like worship of Goddess Earth.He made these comments between Tharoor and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the state government, answering PTI questions about the ongoing line on the issue of Bharat Mata.Asked if Tharoor would join the BJP, Gopi said that he could not act as a “catalyst” in the matter as it was Tharoor’s decision.When he further questioned whether the situation of Tharoor had changed, Gopi said that it was not just a simple change.The BJP leader said, “This was a need desired by the people. This is a change that has come from understanding the interests of the people.”On a separate issue, Gopi appointed individual employees against the practice of ministers in the ruling government.He said that he not only disagreed with practice, but was “completely opposed” for it.Gopi said, “This is wrong. He (individual employees) should be paid salaries for their work. But they should be banned, giving all other benefits.”He argued that when several other pension was not being paid, individual employees appointed for a few years were getting various benefits and large salaries, which he said was unjust.
