‘No change in stand, CM not beyond criticism, dissent doesn’t make an enemy’ 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V D Satheesan said that he stands firm on the stand against the controversial anti-women remarks of Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar. He said they have every right to criticise him and even write articles against him. This is democracy. The chief minister is not above criticism. Those who criticise me are not my enemies, he said.

Satheesan said he does not question anyone’s right to criticise him or the language they choose to use. If I have changed my stand on anything, I will inform the media. Let the general public evaluate the matter, he said.

The chief minister also responded to reports that the video of the press meet had been deleted from social media.

The full press meet was livestreamed on Facebook. According to Instagram’s format, only a specific portion of it had been posted there. Since the full press conference was already available on Facebook, the Instagram post was deleted to avoid duplication. However, he clarified that the video is still available on both Facebook and Instagram.

The chief minister also explained the meeting he had with leaders of the A P faction. He clarified that they had not come to meet him because of the stand he had expressed. They happened to be in Thiruvananthapuram while he was convening the press meet.

He said they had come from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram the previous day specifically to meet him. The meeting had been scheduled three weeks earlier and took place according to that appointment, clarified the chief minister.