If a head is what they want, we are ready to offer it,” says Rahul Mankootam in response to the BJP leader’s remark that “heads will have to be seen in the skies.

The BJP has once again issued threats against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mankootathil. BJP district general secretary Omanakuttan declared that Rahul would not be allowed to step foot in Palakkad, threatening that "his head will be seen in the sky and his feet won't touch the ground."

The threat was made during a BJP march to the MLA's office in protest against Rahul Mankootathil’s objection to naming the Palakkad Municipal Skill Development Centre after RSS leader Hedgewar. Omanakuttan made the aggressive statement during his welcome speech at the march. A similar threat had earlier been raised during the DCC office march. The BJP alleged that Rahul’s stance against naming the centre was an insult to students with disabilities.

In response, MLA Rahul Mankootathil issued a strong counterattack against the BJP’s threats. He said the BJP lacks the strength to cut off his legs and that he continues to walk with his feet firmly grounded. “If it’s my head they want, I’m ready to offer it — but I won’t apologize,” Rahul said defiantly. He also clarified that neither he nor the CPI(M) had made any statements against the disability project, accusing the BJP of unnecessarily stirring up emotion. Rahul further asserted that he would not allow the Skill Development Centre to be named after Dr. Hedgewar.