Kerala’s Power Minister and Idukki district’s CPI(M) strongman MM Mani, whose dirty remarks have sparked off protests across the State and an indefinite agitation by woman tea workers in Munnar and have antagonised top revenue officials, has effectively become a heavy Cross on the shoulders of Kerala’s lDF Government as an Assembly session is beginning on Tuesday.
The Congress-led Opposition UDF, re-energised by its sparkling victory in the recent by-election in Malappuram lok Sabha Constituency, is sure to make the issue of Mani’s obscene comments against women as a sharp weapon to attack the Government during the session. UDF leaders have already said that they would be satisfied with nothing less than Mani’s resignation.
The Penpilai Orumai (Women’s Unity), a forum of woman tea estate workers, continued their agitation in Munnar town for the second day on Monday demanding direct apology from Mani for his comments while the Minister said that he would not meet the agitating woman workers to apologise to them.
The Kerala Women’s Commission on Monday suo moto initiated a case against the Minister and instructed the Superintendent of Police, Idukki to take follow-up action. After visiting the agitating Orumai members in Munnar, Commission member J Prameela Devi said that Mani had insulted them with his remarks.
“I am not going to apologize to Penpilai Orumai. I haven’t asked them to start their agitation. Those who had forced them to start their stir can ask them to end it,” Mani said at his house in Kunchithanni, Munnar as Orumai leader Gomathy Augustine reiterated that they would continue their protest till Mani apologised.
The day-long shutdown in Idukki district on Monday called by the BJP-led NDA to protest against Mani’s diatribe against woman plantation workers and Government officials evoked total response. Top political leaders including BJP’s State general secretary Sobha Surendran visited Munnar to declare solidarity with the protesting women.
Mani had made obscene reamrks against the workers of Penpilai Orumai who had held a legendary agitation in Munnar in 2015 demanding wage hike and bonus.