By IANS,
Kozhikode (Kerala): The Congress Friday said politics rather than hygiene concerns led to the closure of the Kerala eatery which hit the headlines after Rahul Gandhi paid an impromptu visit to it.
Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy, state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and Deputy Leader of Opposition G. Karthikeyan visited the closed hotel here.
Speaking to reporters, Chandy said there is no harm if authorities insist that proper hygiene be maintained.
“But it appears that there is more to it than just that. Now one doubts the manner in which this hotel has been closed on political grounds,” said Chandy.
Chennithala said the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the state is rattled by the huge response that Gandhi got during his visit to the state.
The Olive Restaurant, owned by 53-year-old Abdul Azeez, shot into instant fame when Gandhi chose to have a cup of coffee here breaking away from his original programme.
“Certainly I got a huge publicity when he (Rahul) said that the coffee was excellent. This instant publicity irked a few and initially it was jealousy. And later when the owner of this building took part in a protest march against a police official who called Rahul as a ‘chengathi” (friend) on his wireless, things appear to have turned political,” Azeez told IANS.
A health inspector gave notice to Azeez that he should not use well water and closed down the hotel.
“We use well water only for washing plates. For cooking purpose, we use water which is purchased. I have given the sample of the well water for tests and once I get the result I will go back to the inspector,” Azeez said.