Row over Suresh Gopi’s ‘Vishukkaineetam’

Devaswom restricts melsanthis from taking money to give ‘Vishukkaineetam’

Cine actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suresh Gopi distributing ‘Vishukkaineetam’ to women by the road side in Thrissur. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Distribution of ‘Vishukkaineetam’ by cine star and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suresh Gopi in Thrissur district has stirred up an hornets’ nest.

The actor-turned-politician had been in the district for the last four days attending programmes organised in connection with Vishu. The BJP organised a mass programme at the Koustubham auditorium here, where Mr. Gopi distributed Vishukkaineetam to all BJP booth presidents in the district. A large number of people, from children to elderly people, thronged the auditorium to receive it. He toured all the 26 mandalams in the district distributing ‘kaineetam.’

A video in which the actor sitting in a car and distributing ‘kaineetam’ to women on the road went viral on social media. Many criticised the video as women were seen touching his feet. However, many argued that it was the custom of receiving Vishukaineetam.

Mr. Gopi’s Vishu tour turned into yet another controversy when he gave money to the Melsanthi at the Sree Vadakkunnathan temple for distributing Vishukaineetam to people. CPI(M) leaders protested against it. When it became a controversy, the Cochin Devaswom Board issued a direction to Melsanthis not to receive donation from people to distribute Vishukaineetam.

Coming down heavily on the criticism, Mr. Gopi said those who were criticising him were intolerant. He was not asking votes but was giving Vishukaineetam to children, he said.

“Around 30,000 people received the ‘kaineetam.’ They were not party workers. Almost 70% of them were children and elderly people,” he said. The actor said he also gave money to the Melsanthis of Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi, Vadakkunnathan and Guruvayur for distributing as Vishukaineetam.

Cine actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi distributing ‘Vishukkaineetam’ in Thrissur recvently. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

At a BJP function in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Gopi said it was an ancient tradition. It was usual for children to pay their respect to elders after receiving Vishu gifts from them. Some forces viewed such practices with hostility. The same elements had protested against the Centre's farm laws. However, they failed to prevent farmer suicides in the State.