The heinous incident involving the kidnapping of CPM Councillor Kala Raju, belonging to the Koothattukulam Municipal Council, has sparked numerous repercussions in the state. The latest developments unfolded in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday.
V.D. Satheesan, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition, criticised the CPM in connection with the Koothattukulam incident. He compared the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which governs the state as well as the Koothattukulam Municipality, to Dushasana, who attempted to disrobe Draupadi in the Kaurava Sabha. The treasury benches repeatedly interrupted and shouted while Satheesan addressed the assembly. Eventually, Satheesan lost his temper, threw papers onto the floor, and expressed anger at the Speaker. The Speaker, in turn, expressed his helplessness, stating, “What can I do? They are not obeying me. You may speak or not.”
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan denied the Opposition’s allegation that the Speaker favoured the treasury benches. Anoop Jacob (Kerala Congress-J) submitted a calling attention motion alleging that the police had supported CPM goons who publicly humiliated a widow. Anoop Jacob questioned whether this was the “sort of safety women enjoy under CPM rule.”
In response, the Chief Minister accused the UDF of encouraging turncoats and undermining democracy. The Leader of the Opposition countered by asking, “Are you not a Politburo member of the party that made a man vice president of the Karumalloor Panchayat (Ernakulam district) in the afternoon, even though he had defected from the UDF to the LDF in the morning?” Satheesan also criticised the government for taking swift action against Bobby Chemmannoor following a complaint by matinee idol Honey Rose, while allegedly dragging its feet on the Koothattukulam incident.
Kerala: Safety myth shattered, CPM’s own woman councillor kidnapped under LDF rule
Writes: T Satisan#Kerala #CPM #PinarayiVijayan https://t.co/8vjFUH2VBb
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) January 25, 2025
Kala Raju has already provided her confidential statement before a magistrate under various sections of BNS. However, the CPM leadership has dismissed the allegations with implausible explanations. They claimed that 13 LDF councillors, including Kala Raju, were present at the CPM Area Committee office as per party instructions, raising doubts about her allegations. Nonetheless, non-bailable charges have been registered against CPM Area Secretary P.V. Ratheesh and others, based on complaints lodged by Kala Raju’s children.
Undoubtedly, the people of Kerala are deeply concerned about the state of affairs, especially the increasing atrocities against women and children.
