Slipper issue: Tamil Nadu minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan expresses regret, tribal boy agrees to withdraw police complaint

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Tamil Nadu forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan on Friday personally conveyed his “deep regret” to a tribal boy in the Nilgiris district, a day after he made the teenager unbuckle his slippers. After the minister expressed his regret, C B Kethan, 14, agreed to withdraw a complaint he had filed at the Masinagudi police station.
On Thursday, the minister asked the tribal boy to unbuckle his (minister's) slippers so that he could remove them and enter a temple in Theppakadu elephant camp. The minister was in Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) to inaugurate a 48-day rejuvenation camp for captive elephants. The incident created a controversy.
The boy filed a police complaint on Thursday evening. But the police did not register the complaint.
On Friday, the minister met the boy, his mother Kali, and around 50 tribal people. The meeting took place at Tamizhagam, a government guest house in Ooty.
The minister with Kethan (fourth from left) and Kethan's friend, mother and others
The minister conveyed his “deep regret,” following which Kethan and his mother offered to withdraw the petition.
During the meeting, the boy’s side demanded that the government provide basic amenities and green houses to their village, Lightpadi. They handed over a petition to the minister. The minister said their demands would be fulfilled soon.