THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Standing committee chairman DR Anil's remarks during the BJP's protest demanding the mayor's resignation has sparked a controversy. BJP members have complained against Anil and said they will meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and send a letter to CPM State Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Yesterday, after Mayor Arya Rajendran suspended nine women councillors who protested with a banner in front of the mayor's dias, the protestors snatched books from the officials and registered their attendance. Seeing this, Anil said through the mic that the BJP councillors had signed despite being suspended in order to get the sitting fee. Looking at the women councillors, Anil asked, 'There are many other ways to make money, do you have to sign this book?' The women councillors reacted strongly to this. BJP councillors started a 24-hour satyagraha in the council hall to protest the remark.

The strike demands that DR Anil, who insulted the women councillors, should be suspended and a criminal case should be filed. The BJP has filed a complaint against the mayor and the museum station for allegedly making misogynistic remarks. BJP Parliamentary Party leader MR Gopan said that he will file a complaint with the Women's Commission and the City Police Commissioner. The mayor said he would respond to the misogynist remark after seeing the evidence. D. R. Anil responded that he did not make any such remarks and that things are being twisted.

DR Anil should be arrested: K Surendran

BJP state president K Surendran said that standing committee chairman DR Anil should be arrested for making misogynistic remarks. "If Anil is not willing to resign, he should be fired. Suspension of the councillors was undemocratic and the strike will be intensified", Surendran's said.

A member of the UDF also lodged a complaint with the museum station that Anil had threatened to kill him. The complaint was by councillor S. Suresh Kumar. He has approached the High Court seeking an investigation under the supervision of the High Court in all the scams including the letter controversy and temporary appointments. Suresh Kumar's allegation is that this is the reason for DR Anil's threat.