A row has broken out following the absence of Kerala Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan from the unveiling of a memorial sculpture dedicated to endosulfan victims in Kasaragod. The Speaker was expected to unveil the 40-foot-tall artwork, titled ‘Victims’ and created by sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, at the Kasaragod district panchayat office on Friday. Instead, he attended a separate program in the neighboring Kannur district.
Mr. Radhakrishnan told reporters on Saturday that he cancelled his travel plans because he did not receive proper communication from the organizers. He stated that he waited until the last minute for confirmation before booking a ticket to Kannur, describing the situation as an unfortunate incident.
However, Kasaragod district panchayat president Sabu Abraham contradicted this claim, asserting that the Speaker had been notified through official channels. According to Mr. Abraham, the invitation was first extended via Uduma MLA K. Neelakandan, followed by an official letter to the Speaker's office. He further noted that a detailed schedule was sent after a board meeting on November 6, and that he had personally called the Speaker on November 11 and contacted his private secretary the next morning.
The Speaker's absence has drawn criticism from public representatives, including Manjeswaram MLA A.K.M. Ashraf, as well as various artists.
