The CM never realized that his words would spin him to a whirlpool of outrage. Since there is no accountability on VIP’s words in our part of the world, to get away from a situation they utter what ever that comes to their mind without minding their language, and later if happens to face criticism, they unhesitatingly use the age old card of "press misquoted"- just because they are powerful or influential.

In this high tech electronic era there is no room for the press to misquote when every breath can be recorded but the press might keep mum in fear of the sticks VIPs carry when they refute their own statement. But the fact is most of these VIPs are ignorant of modern gadgets.

Within few hours Kerala started boiling as the media went all out against the communist Chief Minister. Opposition parties including the BJP accused the state of insulting the martyr and showing disrespect to the Kerala-born soldier, by not sending any minister to his funeral. The parties pointed out that there was a partial hartal in parts of Kerala when even former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was hanged.

As the heat became unbearable, next day Sunday 30th, accompanied by his home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kerala CM rushed to Bangalore without realizing the cold reception awaiting him there. Sandeep’s father was angry with Kerala government for the state had not conveyed a timely condolence even.

As a mark of protest he declined to receive the ministers when he was called five to six times on phone, did not allow police sniffer dogs into his house and told the security personnel who came there ahead of the Kerala CM’s visit, that no Kerala politician is welcome there. Unnikrishnan further reportedly said he would commit suicide if any of them entered his house.

Despite of the cold atmosphere, Achuthanandan and Kodiyeri visited the commando’s parents to convey the state government’s condolences. But the attempt backfired as the family shut the doors. Sandeep’s father remained firm and refused to meet the leaders from his own state, expressing his anger so strongly that officials accompanying the ministers had to restrain him while the police persuaded Dhanalakshmi, the slain commando’s mother, to talk to the visitors.

But the dead commando’s furious father who agitated against the CM’s presence, shouted at them to leave at once and refused to let them into the house, using harsh words before asking the duo to "get out’’ of his house. Amid pandemonium, Balakrishnan gave words of comfort to Dhanalakshmi and Achuthanandan followed him. Unnikrishnan, who hails from Kerala’s Kozhikode, had told his friends that his son, whose valour was witnessed by the entire country, did not belong to Kerala alone but to the entire nation.

On the other hand, Kerala CM who was infuriated by this insult retorted to a news channel in Bangalore, "not even a dog would have visited the house’’ had it not been the martyr’s. "Is there a rule that the chief ministers of Kerala and Karnataka should visit together. Not even a dog would have glanced that way had it not been Sandeep’s house. Our attachment to Sandeep’s family is special. Should not Mr.Unnikrishnan, a soldier’s father understand this?’’

Dog may be a pet domestic animal but when it is quoted in speech it is used to express disrespect only. Even the Iraqi journalist, Muntader al-Zaidi who threw shoes at President Bush in Iraq on the 14th shouted at him in Arabic, "You dog!" CM’s insensitive remark rekindled the subject not only in Kerala but through out India and caused a huge uproar in the Kerala Assembly making the Left parties red faced. Though pressure mounted on the CM to apologies he stead fast refused.

"I did not say anything wrong. We respect their family and that is why we went there," defiant CM told TV channel Times Now. "I was not angry at their behaviour. When I and the state home minister went there, his (Sandeep’s father) wife and relatives told us that his mental state is not right, so please don’t misunderstand him," he said.

"He (Sandeep’s father) says that the Kerala chief minister did not come whereas the Karnataka chief minister came in the morning itself...and that Kerala has ignored him. He got all worked up over this," Achuthanandan said in Thiruvananthapuram. The chief minister asked, "Is there a rule that the chief ministers of Kerala and Karnataka should be there at the same time?"

CP Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat, who is also a Keralite, described in a brief statement "Certain remarks made by Achuthanandan are regrettable." "I have spoken to him (chief minister) over telephone. He has assured that he had no other intention but to go to the home of Unnikrishnan, who was brutally killed by terrorists, to pay homage and to offer his condolences."

Though, Karat apologized for Kerala CM’s remarks, unapologetic CM bounced back and told a TV channel, No apologies to slain major’s dad. "I did not say anything wrong. We respect their family and that is why we went there. I was not angry at their behaviour. When I and the state home minister went there, his (Sandeep’s father) wife and relatives told us that his mental state is not right, so please don’t misunderstand him," he said.

The Left faced the heat, as protests mounted in Kerala now demanding that the CM be sacked. For the CPM, V. S. Achuthanandan has become a huge embarrassment. The Marxists found itself in an untenable position, forced to chastise a state CM and senior member of the Politburo for his loose comment.

The opposition asked the Chief Minister to issue an unconditional apology and threatened to walk out from the state assembly if their demand was not met. Finally the dawn arrived on the 3rd of December when Kerala’s mighty Rajah Elephant knelt down.

"I deeply regret my comments," said the Kerala CM. "If my comments have hurt Major Unnikrishnan’s family, I’m sorry," he added.

Achuthanandan spoke before Kerala Assembly amidst immense pressure to quit for his comments. He said his comments were misinterpreted and that he was quoted out of context. He also went on to say that he was hurt and felt regret. He lashed out saying that instead of giving due importance to the Mumbai attacks, the media was giving more importance to this particular matter, blowing it out of proportion.

In the mean time Unnikrishnan said that he holds no grudge against politicians, it was for a specific reason that he turned the Kerala CM out. "The Kerala government did not respond spontaneously to the hero’s sacrifice but after they saw media reports, they tried sending their condolences".

"The family was not expecting something special from the Kerala government. A spontaneous gesture would have done for a hero born in that state. I don’t like someone acting under compulsion or duress. It seems the Kerala ministers did so after media reports. The Karnataka ministers immediately responded made all the arrangements and came to meet us. I never refused".

Besides, on the 7th December a press release from the Karnataka Chief Minister’s office said that the Karnataka government had sanctioned Rs. 30 lakh to the family of slain NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan. "A cheque of Rs. 30 lakh will be sent to Unnikrishnan, father of slain major Sandeep Unnikrishnan" it said.

On the other hand as a rare tribute, on Sunday 14th, Army chief Deepak Kapoor said, hundreds of Sandeeps were ready to protect India. "Though we may have lost one Sandeep Unnikrishnan, we are preparing many such officers here at the Indian Military Academy,’’ he said after reviewing the passing-out parade and oath-taking by newly-commissioned officers at IMA in Dehradun.