Allegations and counter-allegations regarding women safety in Kerala; opposition stages walkout in protest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition raised question in the assembly about whether women's safety in Kerala is stripping a widow in the middle of the road. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala is a role model in women's safety and there is no compromise in this regard.

The assembly was abuzz with allegations and counter-allegations while considering the urgent motion notice regarding the kidnapping of Kala Raju, a CPM councillor in Koothatukulam Municipal Corporation. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan said that those who insulted a woman in broad daylight and creating a ruckus by trivialising it calling it a defection would go down in history as modern-day Dushasanas. The opposition staged a walkout from the assembly demanding the arrest of the real accused and action against the policemen who were involved.

Anoop Jacob, who presented the notice, said that Kala Raju was abducted by the CPM while the police were watching. "Is women's safety a matter of stripping her clothes and saying that her legs will be broken? The police acted swiftly on the complaint of Honey Ross, but the action is slow in this case. All women have the same dignity as the actress," Anoop Jacob said.

Aiming at Kala Raju, the Chief Minister said that the UDF has adopted a situation that encourages defection in Koothattukulam and those who are working against democracy should resign.

"The accused who are CPM have committed crimes punishable by seven years in prison. The Chief Minister is conniving in the abuse of women. A UDF member who defected and voted in Karumalloor Panchayat a month ago was made vice president in the afternoon. It is the member of the politburo of that party who is opposing the defection here," Satheesan said.