Thrissur, 15 Sept

Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Monday defended his decision not to accept an application from an elderly man seeking help for a house, saying he would not make promises he cannot keep.

The incident took place on 12 September at a public event in Thrissur, when 75-year-old Velayudhan approached Gopi with an application. Videos of the minister declining to accept it went viral, sparking criticism online.

Responding on Facebook, Gopi said some were trying to exploit the incident for political gain. “I do not make promises that cannot be fulfilled. Housing construction is a state subject. It is for the state government to consider,” he said.

He added that he has always worked within the system to deliver real benefits. Gopi welcomed the fact that another political group later stepped in to provide a house to the family. “Even if there was a political motive, what matters is that the family got a safe home,” he said.

The minister said he had been aware of the family’s struggles for two years. “If my role pushed someone to act, I see it as a positive outcome. In people’s struggles, there is no place for political games. What truly matters are real solutions,” he said.