Explorer

Muhammad Ali was an eminent sports personality from Kerala: State sports minister

Thiruvananthapuram, June 4: The social media is having a field day over the faux pas made by Kerala Industry and Sports Minister E.P.Jayarajan in his obituary reference on late boxing legend Muhammad Ali on Saturday. "I don't have to be what you want me to be," Muhammad Ali had said. But, it seems, Kerala sports minister E.P. Jayarajan wasn't listening. On Saturday, he described the American legend as a Kerala sporting great who had won the state "international fame". "I came to know only now that Muhammad Ali has died in America," the CPM worthy told private news channel Manorama News, giving his "reaction" to news of Ali's death.
"He was a great figure in Kerala's sports scene. He secured a gold medal in sports and brought international fame to Kerala. I hereby convey the condolences of Kerala and Kerala sports." Jayarajan's gaffe had the social media rolling with laughter, though some users feared for the future of sports in Kerala with such a minister in charge. ALSO READ:  Like Ali, how many of our icons will take a punch for what they believe in? "Lucky he didn't say Ali had played a major role in strengthening the party (CPM) in Kannur (district)," one of the messages sneered. Jayarajan is a party satrap from Kannur district and a confidant of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In last month's Assembly polls, he won from the district's Mattannur constituency by an impressive 42,891 votes. ALSO READ: Remembering when Muhammad Ali destroyed Donald Trump in just 132 words The minister was formerly the general manager of the party's Malayalam mouthpiece,Deshabhimani. One troll targeted Jayarajan by punning on the trawling ban that is enforced in the state for two months every year, from mid-June to mid-August. "Trolling ('trawling' and 'trolling' are spelt the same in Malayalam) ban to be effective in Kerala from today as the government has found it impossible to handle the trolling of Jayarajan by trolls following his remarks on Ali," went the post
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections: Report
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Is BJP Bluffing Over 400-Mark? Check Anurag Thakur's Response At ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024 | ABP News'Jeet Ki Guarantee Kya Hai?', BJP Leader &  Minister of Urban Development Hardeep Puri Answers | ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024: BJP Leader &  Minister of Urban Development Hardeep Puri On CAABihar Seat Sharing: RJD to contest the upcoming polls on 26 seats-Sources | Elections 2024 |ABP News

Photogallery

Embed widget