Malayalam film actor Suresh Gopi, who has declared his political leanings towards BJP, today faced the ire of a top leader of the upper caste Nair community as he entered the venue of the budget session of the Nair Service Society (NSS) without permission.
NSS General Secretary Sukumaran Nair asked Gopi, who is also a Nair, to leave the hall where budget presentation was being held, as the actor entered the venue after paying his respects at the Mannam memorial - memorial of NSS founder and social reformer Mannathu Padmanabhan - at the community's headquarters here, NSS sources said.
The sources said Nair was irked by the actor-turned politician's presence at the budget presentation venue on a day when the crucial Assembly bypoll to Aruvikkara constituency is being held. Besides, he was not invited for the budget presentation.
"Our general secretary felt that the presence of Gopi, who actively campaigned for BJP candidate O Rajagopal, at the venue would send out a wrong message to voters in Aruvikkara - a stronghold of Nair community. That's why he asked Gopi to leave the venue," a source at the NSS headquarters said.
Later, Gopi, celebrating his birthday as per the Malayalam calendar today, said he was stunned and it was a "heart-breaking" experience for him.
The actor said he was on his way back home after visiting a temple this morning and decided to pay his respects at the Mannam Memorial. Later, an NSS leader asked him to meet Sukumaran Nair as otherwise he will feel bad, the actor said.
But NSS sources said the actor was not invited for the budget session where only NSS representatives are allowed to attend.
Gopi said he entered the hall to meet the NSS general secretary. "His response on seeing me broke my heart. I was stunned," said the actor who soon left the venue.
Speaking at the budget session later, Nair lashed out at Gopi saying "please do not have a show here".
