KANNUR: Women’s Commission chairperson M C Josephine has received flak for abusing a relative of an aged woman. Short story writer T Padmanabhan came down heavily on M C Josephine for her act. He expressed his hostility to P Jayarajan, who visited him as part of CPM's house visit programme ahead of the elections. He showed his anger saying that he is a well-wisher and not an opponent. Her words are not suited for her post. Why appointed her after providing a big car and a hefty salary? The old woman was cruelly insulted. She behaved in an unkindly and rude manner, said T Padmanabhan. Many party leaders accompanied Jayarajan to the writer’s house. Jayarajan informed to bring this to the notice of Josephine.

In the meanwhile, M C Josephine came to the fore with an explanation on the incident. She said that she never insulted. There was ambiguity in the caller's speech and that led to the misunderstanding. The incident was exaggerated by the media, said Josephine.

The controversy sparked after M C Josephine insisted to bring the bedridden elderly woman directly before the Women's Commission. Josephine also verbally abused the relative who asked if there was any other way to hear the complaint. Josephine's phone conversation hurling abuses at the caller was exposed yesterday. The complainant is Lakshmikutty Amma, a native of Pathanamthitta. Lakshmikutty Amma is bedridden after beaten by her neighbour. She approached the commission after no action was taken by the police on the complaint lodged.

The relative said the chairperson hurled abuses asking why an 87-year-old woman is filing a complaint with the commission. We can hear Josephine saying that the complainant should appear at the hearing wherever summoned.