Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s outspoken electricity minister and senior Communist Party of India Marxist leader M.M. Mani has courted fresh controversy, ascribing sexual harassment of women to senior Congress leaders.
Mani had recently triggered controversy with vulgar comments against media persons and members of the Pembilai Orumai (Women’s Collective), the organisation fighting for rights of plantation workers in Munnar in Idukki district.
In his latest verbal outburst, Mani alleged that Congressmen were the biggest sexual harassers in the world. “See if these Congressmen have any shame. They are the biggest women harassers in the world, and they include leaders right from the national leadership. I am not going too far. If I do, it will become dirty,” Mani said on Sunday.
The power minister went on to ask if anyone had heard of any CPM leader being involved in any case of sexual harassment, and alleged that it was those Congressmen who were involved in the solar power case and who had been given promotions in the party.
Mani had been censured by the CPM after his comments against the Pembilai Orumai leaders, and his comments on Sunday have put the CPM on the defensive again.
Responding to Mani’s allegations against Congressmen, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan said, “Mani is accusing Congressmen when the fact is that CPM is the party that has ousted members for bad behaviour towards women.” Hassan added that there was a conspiracy in chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan protecting Mani despite his controversial statements.
In Munnar, Pembilai Orumai volunteers are presently holding a chain satyagraha (protest), demanding Mani’s resignation. Mani has stated he would not go and meet them or offer an apology and that he had already expressed regret in public about the issue.
