Tributes pour in for Former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan

Leaders cutting across political lines paid glowing tributes to senior Congress leader and former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan, who passed away here on Tuesday morning (March 3).

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, wrote on Facebook: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of K.P. Unnikrishnan, a senior Congress leader and former Union Minister. He devoted his life to public service with commitment and integrity. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the people of Kerala. He will be remembered with respect.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement that Mr. Unnikrishnan was a staunch spokesperson of secular politics who tried to retain Nehruvian values in the Congress party. Mr. Vijayan said that Mr. Unnikrishnan was also opposed to the Sangh Parivar’s Hindutva politics and recalled his election victory from Vadakara in 1991 against a common candidate of the Congress and the BJP.

V.D. Satheesan, Opposition leader, said that Mr. Unnikrishnan was always aligned with the socialist stream of thought, who was also a well-known journalist, orator, and writer.

M.V. Govindan, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said that Mr. Unnikrishnan had played a key role in the evacuation of 1.5 lakh Indians during the Gulf war, when he was a Union Minister. His demise is happening at a time when West Asia is in the grip of tension again. Mr. Govindan said that the Indian rulers should emulate his work.

Sunny Joseph, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, said Mr. Unnikrishnan had focussed on the development of Malabar during his stint as a Union Minister. He utilised his rich experience as a journalist when he entered Parliament as a Lok Sabha member, Mr. Joseph added.