Major Sandeep controversy haunted Achuthanandan’s visit

Shyam Sundar Vattam

MYSURU

Former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s connection to Bengaluru is marred by a controversy that unfolded in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed the life of NSG Commando Major Sandeep K. Unnikrishnan. His visit to the martyr’s home in Bengaluru sparked public outrage and remains one of the more painful and contentious moments in his long political career.

Achuthanandan arrived at the Unnikrishnan residence in Bengaluru to offer his condolences, but was denied entry by Major Sandeep’s grieving father. Upset over the Kerala government’s delayed acknowledgment of his son’s sacrifice, Mr. K. Unnikrishnan shut the gate on the Chief Minister, refusing to receive him.

What followed made headlines across the country. A visibly angered Achuthanandan said,

"If it had not been Major Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way."

The remark was widely condemned as insensitive and disrespectful, further compounding public anger. The situation contrasted sharply with the response in Karnataka, where thousands, including the state’s Chief Minister and cabinet ministers, gathered to honour Major Sandeep.

In the wake of the backlash, Major Sandeep’s father clarified his stance: "Sandeep never liked anything done under pressure. I didn’t want anyone visiting just out of obligation. He wasn’t just our son or a Malayali—he belonged to the world."

He expressed regret over the way the visit unfolded, stating he was not in a stable emotional state when the Chief Minister was brought in without his knowledge. The incident left a deep scar in public memory, casting a shadow over an otherwise heroic narrative of sacrifice, pride, and national mourning, and became a sobering lesson in political sensitivity and timing during moments of shared grief.