Minister refutes claim Governor was not invited for Onam pageantry

Refuting reports by a section of the media that the State government did not invite Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to flag off the procession on the concluding day of the government’s Onam week celebrations, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty said that an appointment has been already fixed with the Governor’s office to invite him formally.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday (August 31), he said that Tourism department director Shikha Surendran had written to the Governor’s secretary on August 29, seeking an appointment for himself as well as the Tourism Minister, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, MLAs, Tourism Secretary and Director to meet the Governor to extend the invitation. The Governor’s office has granted permission for the meeting on September 2 at 4 p.m., he said.