CPI(M) plans to organise a “women’s wall” in response to the massive protest erupted across the state and elsewhere in the country against the Sabarimala verdict and to show that women in the state are in favour of the verdict. But from the Day 1 of the announcement, the party and the Left Front government have been sliding from one controversy to another over the wall. Even on the purpose of the wall there were contradictory statements. CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is reported to have said the purpose of the wall is to scuttle unification of Hindus.
Although the party is putting up a brave front, a slew of sexual harassment cases involving its MLAs and senior leaders and the party’s response to them have put a question mark over the credibility of the wall. It has become a butt of laughter when the ‘rapist’ MLA PK Sasi was asked by the party to lead a state-wide women’s rally. The allegation against Sasi was levelled by a party activist who even provided proof to the party. The party leaders from the state to the centre tried to sweep it under the carpet. Its fire-brand women’s right activist-leader Brinda Karat tried to bury the complaint. Later under pressure, the party instituted a probe team which found that Sasi’s sexual harassment was of “low intensity” and suspended him for six months. But immediately after handing out the punishment, the party tried to absolve Sasi of the charges by saying that the controversial MLA was “a victim of group politics”.
Meanwhile, sex scandals involving their leaders keep on mounting. Latest report is from Parassinikkadav, Kannur district, the bastion of CPM in the state. The incident took place in Anthoor panchayat where CPM rules without having any opposition in the House. Several CPM men including DYFI office bearers are arrested there for gang-raping a minor girl. Her father is one among the fifteen comrades. Nikhil Mohan, DYFI Anthoor municipal committee secretary and the former driver of the municipality vehicle, is another one in the list. Sixteen cases have been registered in connection with the incident of tying up the girl in a lodge and molesting. About 20 people kept on molesting her for several days together.
There is a case against Jeevan Lal, the CPM leader in Irinjalakkuda, Thrissur, based on a complaint of sexual harassment lodged by a party girl comrade against him. The girl is the vice-president of local DYFI unit and the accused the branch secretary of CPM. The venue of the alleged molestation is the MLA quarters in the capital city. He is alleged to have taken the girl to Thiruvananthapuram promising a free seat for entrance coaching. The reports suggest that his attempt to molest took place in the room of the Irinjalakkuda MLA. She resisted despite his threat and temptation. Back home she complained to the party leadership and the DYFI state leadership, but in vain.
It is reported that party leaders were against any action against the accused because it would bring bad name to the party. But, by that time, her own party comrades defamed her through social media; it was more than enough to learn that there was no scope for justice from the party hence she complained to the DyS of Police. The party succeeded in postponing the arrest until Jeevan Lal got the anticipatory bail from the high court. The girl says, several other girls had to face the same experience with the man. Now she says she does not want to associate with the male chauvinist party which prefers party’s image to a girl’s modesty.
Couple of years before an incident reported from Athani, Thrissur district, stirred a hornet’s nest throughout the state. A house wife, a left fellow traveller, complained that Jayanthan, a CPM leader and municipal councillor, took her away in a car and molested. She complained that there were three others with him and took her to several places for days together and kept on molesting her. Even though the case was registered it was weakened later due to the inspection team’s alleged subservience towards the ruling CPM. Once the story spilled out, she had to face repeated threats hence she fled the place. Party suspended Jayanthan from the party, a mere eyewash. Later on it was withdrawn.
Sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl by 60 year old businessman Moideen Kutty, very much in the presence of her mother, was a serious matter which came to light about eight months ago. Moideen was a fixture in CPM meetings. The incident took place in a movie house in Malappuram district. Movie house owner EC Satheesh submitted CCTV visuals before the Child Line offices. They submitted it before the police station. But, there was no action, it is alleged. Then the Child Line people handed it over to a Malayalam TV channel. When they telecast the news and the visuals, the police moved into action against Moideen Kutty and the mother of the child, both under POCSO.
People of Kerala still remember the removal of Gopi Kottamurickal, the Ernakulam district secretary of CPM, from all party positions. There were reports in the media that It was the result of a sting operation in the bed room of the party district committee office. But, after few years he has been taken back in the party.
Still it is too early to say that Kerala CPM enjoys the monopoly in this ‘zone’. The news of the removal the CPM Karnataka state secretary do not indicate any normal or pleasant happening. The press release says, “removed from party positions due to serious character flaws”. There are reports that sexual abuse and financial irregularities are the main allegations. Action is based on party level enquiries. Allegations of sexual abuse came from party women. Reports add that illegal land deals, financial irregularities, collection of donation from mysterious background, etc. have contributed to the action.
There are many more. The right hand man of P Jayarajan, the district secretary of Kannur, Kirmani Manoj, supposed to be languishing in jail in connection with a murder case was accused of running away with the wife of a party worker after he was released on parole. The women, a mother of two, deserted her family and husband (an NRI) to marry Manoj.
Recently, in a TV discussion, the Congress leader Bindu Krishna listed out about 20 cases of sexual harassment by party leaders of the CPM ever since Pinarayi Vijayan took over as the Chief Minister. Many cases go unreported as these are settled at party level.
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