Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Kummanam Rajasekharan has lashed out at Electricity Minister M.M. Mani for his remarks against Pengal Otrumai activists.
Inaugurating a demonstration undertaken by Mahila Morcha activists in front of the Secretariat on Monday, Mr. Rajasekharan said the comments were a disgrace to the State as well as the position Mr. Mani occupied. “The remarks are an insult to womanhood. Despite being a serious issue, attempts are being made to dismiss the matter lightly. Efforts are also being made to claim that the controversy has been raked up by a section of media. The Minister, who was a plantation worker in Munnar once, is now treating them with scant regard like a feudal lord,” Mr. Rajasekharan alleged.
He held the view that merely expressing regret was inadequate in the issue. “The Minister must go to Munnar and seek the activists’ forgiveness. He must also hear their grievances with due compassion. We are in the midst of a crucial phase in the term of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The BJP will extend all possible support towards the cause of the activists in Munnar,” he said.
The Mahila Morcha also burnt Mr. Mani in effigy, slapping cow dung on it using broomsticks. BJP district president S. Suresh, Mahila Morcha State vice president Vijayakumari, district president Hemalatha Sivakumar and district general secretary Anu Ayappan, and BJP district vice president V. Sudharma participated in the demonstration.
Earlier, activists of the Aam Aadmi Party took out a demonstration to the Secretariat demanding the resignation of Mr. Mani in the issue.
