Row over CPM MLA's remark against woman IAS officer

One after the other the ruling CPM in Kerala is courting controversies over its stand against women, especially senior officers, the latest being an insulting remark by CPM MLA S Rajendran against a woman IAS officer.

The MLA allegedly said that the Devikulam sub-collector Renu Raj lacked intelligence. He even allegedly addressed her with disrespect. With the issue snowballing into a major controversy, the CPM has decided to seek an explanation from the MLA. Meanwhile, the MLA came out with a counter allegation that the sub-collector had shown disrespect to him.

Recently the CPM had strongly flayed a police raid conducted by IPS officer Chaithra Theresa John at the party's district committee office in Thiruvananthapuram in search of some party workers wanted in a police station attack case. Though the Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan also flayed the women IPS officer's action, the IPS officers, including State Police Chief Loknath Behera, took a stand that the women IPS officer did nothing unlawful.

In another embarrassment to the CPM, a local court in Alappuzha district recently ordered that a case should be taken against CPM senior leader and Public Works Minister G Sudhkaran for the insulting remarks against a woman who was a member of is personal staff earlier.

Close on the heels of these, the alleged insulting remarks of CPM MLA S Rajendran came up. The CPM is quite worried over these incidents, especially since the Lok Sabha polls are in the offing.

S Rajendran, who represents the Devikulam constituency in Idukki district, allegedly made the insulting remark against Renu Raj on Friday in connection with a stop memo issued to an illegal construction at Munnar, a high-range tourism spot, in Idukki district. Some local media came out with reports that the MLA told a team of revenue officials that the sub-collector lacked intelligence and addressed her with disrespect. The officials went to the spot following information that construction was going on despite the stop memo.

As it became a controversy, Rajendran said that there was no need for him to apologise for the incident as his remarks were just natural reaction. The sub-collector spoke to him with disrespect, even without considering his age, he said adding that would give a complaint to the Speaker in this regard.

However, CPM Idukki district secretary K K Jayachandran said on Sunday that an explanation would be sought from Rajendran on the matter. The party would not tolerate any insult towards women.

Meanwhile, CPM leader and Electricity Minister M M Mani backed Rajendran stating that many senior officials were taking stands as per their wish at Munnar and this was leading to such issues.