After Kerala sports minister E P Jayarajan was trolled on social media for his gaffe describing late Muhammad Ali as a Keralite,former sports minister and Congress leader K Sudhakaran also faced heat for a faux pas while coming out in support of Olympian Anju Bobby George.
While attacking Jayarajan for allegedly insulting Anju with "corruption" charges, Sudhakaran told a TV channel "who dosen't know Anju? Not just Anju, her husband, Jimmy George and his entire family who had dedicated their life for sports."
He also demanded that Jayarajan, who hails from Kannur, should be removed from the ministry.
Sudhakaran had inadvertently mentioned late Jimmy George, a great volleyball player and the first Indian to become a professional player for a club in Italy, as Anju's husband. Jimmy George had died in a car crash on November 30, 1987.
Anju is married to Jimmy's brother Robert Bobby George, a former national champion in triple jump, who had been her coach and mentor.
Sudhakaran came under attack from social media, who trolled him saying "a person with such great knowledge has demanded Jayarajan's resignation."..."Here comes the next candidate on stage (after Jayarajan).. K Sudhakaran."
Opposition Congress-led UDF has lashed out at P Jayarajan, for allegedly insulting Anju and demanded that he be removed.
While Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, said Jayarajan was an 'insult' to the state, KPCC President, V M Sudheeran, wanted him to apologise to the Arjuna awardee.
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Meanwhile, independent MLA P C George came out in support of Jayarajan.
George accused Anju, who is President of Kerala Sports Council, of taking sportspersons away from the state.
"Why are you blaming Jayarajan? She (Anju) is not eligible for holding the presidentship of Kerala Sports Council because she is settled in Karnataka. She is taking away sports stars from Kerala. They are being taken to Karnataka," George told reporters at Kottayam reacting to the controversy over Anju's allegations that the Kerala Sports minister insulted her.
The former government chief whip said he was not concerned even if Jayarajan had used more harsh words against her.
George, who won from his home turf Poonjar Assembly seat as an independent candidate, said he had raised objections when the previous Congress-led UDF appointed Anju, who is now staying in Bengaluru, as Council president.
