Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court on Friday took a serious view of the controversial speech made by outspoken state minister for electricity, M.M. Mani, asking the police chief if he was aware of it.
Mani is alleged to have made vulgar remarks against journalists and women plantation workers in Munnar, which triggered a protest by the latter.
Women plantation workers in Munnar, united under the banner of Pembilai Orumai, have been staging a protest ever since the remarks were made last week. However, Mani and his followers say there was nothing in the speech that was discourteous to them.
The Communist Party of India Marxist leadership censured Mani over the remark, but the minister retorted that he would not be able to alter his style of speech.
When the government attempted to justify Mani’s position in court, pointing out that Mani had no ill intentions against the women plantation workers and that his criticism was directed at the media, the court asked if someone could make statements against media persons.
The debacle in court adds to the string of embarrassments suffered by the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.
Earlier this week, the government was asked by the Supreme Court of India to reinstate T.P. Senkumar as the police chief.
Shortly after coming to power in May 2016, the LDF government had shunted Senkumar out of his post as state police chief on the grounds that he was inefficient.
Senkumar went up to the apex court appealing against the government’s move, and won a favourable verdict according to which the state government has to reinstate him.
