Idukki District Congress Committee (DCC) president CP Mathew landed in a new controversy on Wednesday after a video of him making derogatory remarks against a former woman leader of the party surfaced. The senior Congress leader made the derogatory remark during a public protest meeting organized by the party in front of the Idukki block panchayat office.
Earlier this month, a protest meeting was held against Raji Chandran, the block panchayat president, who had joined the CPI(M) against former Congress leader Raji Chandran, which resulted in the Congress-led UDF losing power in the local body. Despite several attempts, Congress leaders refused to comment on the issue and distanced themselves from the comments made by Mathew.
The CPI(M), however, said that it is the culture of the Congress party to see women as objects. The party said it would take legal action against Mathew’s derogatory remarks. Meanwhile, Chandran told the media that this statement reflects the attitude of the Congress party towards women.
“Congress leaders could have questioned me or made political attacks on me. But it was not right. Will stand with CPI(M) and fight legally,” she told the media. The UDF lost power in the Idukki block panchayat in the first week of February after Chandran quit the Congress-led alliance and joined the Left Front.
Congress sources said that the UDF had given Chandran the president’s post for one year under an agreement. She resigned after the said term but joined CPI(M). After joining the CPI(M), the Left got a majority in the 13-member block panchayat, resulting in the transfer of power to the LDF. Presently, Chandran is the Speaker, who has the support of the Left parties.
Wednesday’s protest meeting was against the president where Mathews made several derogatory remarks. Mathew, earlier in November last year, had faced the wrath of the Barbers and Beauticians Association for his remarks that cut short the profession at a function in Vandiperiyar.
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