Launching the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘Sampark for Samarthan’ outreach programme in Kerala in the run-up to the general elections in 2019, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani visited critic, speaker, and former Left-backed Independent legislator M.K. Sanoo, popular as Sanoo master, at the his residence here on Monday.
Accompanied by V. Muraleedharan, MP, Ms. Irani spent about 20 minutes at Prof. Sanoo’s residence in a ‘cordial and informal’ meeting, according to the writer.
She honoured the veteran writer with a ponnada on his 90th birthday and handed over two monographs which she told him outlined the outcome of the development activities undertaken by the Union government in the past four years.
Seeking his views
Ms. Irani told him that the visit was part of the efforts undertaken by her party to reach out to different sections of people, requesting him to offer his comments and suggestions on the development activities.
“I told her I would send my comments in writing after going through the material given by her,” Prof. Sanoo told The Hindu later.
He used the occasion to register his dissent against the ‘intolerance’ gripping the country, telling Ms. Irani that tolerance was at the heart of Indian ethos.
Ms. Irani interacted with his family and told him about her day’s visit to Aranmula.
Reminded of the famous Aranmula mirror, she said the product of the age-old tradition continued to fascinate the outside world.
“Such techniques have existed in India for long,” she said, adding the Centre was interested in promoting handloom, beekeeping, and similar cottage industries.
While Ms. Irani chose not to interact with the media after the meeting, Mr. Muraleedharan gave a briefing.