Congress leader Shanimol Usman has said that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leadership in the State and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government should act to ensure that Shoranur MLA P.K. Sasi faced legal proceedings over the sexual harassment complaint against him by a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activist.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Ms. Usman said the party leadership owed an explanation on the action taken on the complaint by the victim. The CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan should have immediately handed over the complaint to the police, she said, adding that hiding the complaint was a criminal act. The State government mandated to protect the rule of law was challenging the law, she added.
Women’s safety
“The LDF government led by the CPI(M) came to power by highlighting the slogan, upholding the safety of women,” said Ms. Usman. She said the silence of the two women members in the State Cabinet, K.K. Shylaja and J. Mercykutty Amma, over the sexual harassment complaint was disturbing.
The Congress leader also demanded the resignation of State Women’s Commission chairperson M.C. Josephine as the commission had failed to act on the complaint given by the DYFI activist to the CPI(M).
