‘Divya is being insulted for praising my activities’; K K Ragesh on K Muraleedharan's padaseva remarks

KANNUR: CPM Kannur District Secretary K K Ragesh said that it is an extremely unfortunate stand being taken by the top leaders of the Youth Congress. He was responding to Congress leader K Muraleedharan criticizing Divya S Iyer for praising him. Her post on Instagram congratulated Ragesh, who was private secretary of the chief minister, for his new innings as Kannur district secretary of the CPM. This had courted a controversy.

‘It has been four years since I started working as chief minister's private secretary. I have not said any political opinion on any issue during these four years. While working as the chief minister's private secretary, I have performed my duties in a completely professional manner, just as a government official should.

I had to discuss matters with secretaries, directors, IAS officers, etc. who are part of the government. I had to listen them and express my opinions. The ministerial office and the civil service are a system of working together. Therefore, each person has a different understanding of the others. Based on that understanding, I find it surprising getting so angry on Divya S Iyer for saying good words about my work during that period.

This is a painful example of how some people in politics are narrow-minded. If you say good words, you are subjected to criticism, insulted and attacked. How insulting is the cyber-attack against a woman for her post? What era are we in? Even high-ranking leaders should think for themselves when they react like this,' Ragesh said while talking to the media.

‘There are a few civil service officials doing padaseva to Pinarayi. A woman from that group shared a post. We don’t value it so much. If you use too much soap, it will harm you in the future,’ K Muraleedharan said criticizing Divya Iyer's post.