Suresh Gopi tells Kerala govt not to exaggerate extreme poverty eradication claims as ‘ploy to mislead people for another five years’

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi has said the Kerala government should not exaggerate its claims regarding the eradication of extreme poverty as “a ploy to mislead the public for another five years.”

However, Mr. Gopi said he would have no objection if the State government’s claims are indeed factual. “Extreme poverty must be eradicated. But it is not anyone’s benevolence, is the right of the people,” he said.

Mr. Gopi was speaking to reporters in Thrissur on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) after inaugurating a signature collection campaign for a complaint the BJP is preparing to submit to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The complaint seeks a probe into alleged corruption in land acquisition for a Scheduled Tribe (ST) rehabilitation project in Kodungallur municipality.

He accused the municipality of defrauding ST communities in the land transaction.