Despite MM Mani’s repeated objectionable remarks, CPI(M) has not held him accountable
Despite MM Mani’s repeated objectionable remarks, CPI(M) has not held him accountable
CPI(M) MLA MM Mani’s remarks against Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) leader KK Rema have created an uproar in Kerala. Mr Mani, who represents the Udumbunchola constituency in Idukki and was the power minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government, is not new to controversy. But Mr. Mani, popularly known as Maniasana, does not repent and refuses to admit that he has crossed the limits of civilized debate.
Mr. Mani’s inane remark that it was Ms. Rema’s fate to become the widow of Revolutionary Marxist Party founder-leader TP Chandrasekaran, drew a sharp response from CPI leader Annie Raja, leading to an ugly exchange of words between the two alliance partners. Happened. The episode provided fresh ammunition for a resurgent opposition led by the Congress party. Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan said the highly regressive medieval practice of sati also derives from the idea of fate. As Mr. Mani was unwilling to apologise, he said it was up to the Speaker to examine the comments and decide on their removal.
Besides undermining the quality of public discourse, diverting attention from the state government’s development agenda and hollowing out the government’s commitment to ensure women’s rights, Mr Mani’s remarks fueled the LDF’s opposition to the announcement of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. also threatened. that certain words and expressions shall be deemed to be unparliamentary.
Mr Mani is not new to controversies. In 2012, as CPI(M) Idukki district secretary, he claimed to have prepared a list of 13 political opponents to be killed. In 2016, the police had accused him of making false remarks against a female principal of a local polytechnic. And in 2017, he made derogatory remarks against Pembilai Orumai, a group of women plantation workers for protesting against labor injustice in Munnar.
Importantly, the CPI(M) has not condemned his remarks. This has led some to feel that Mr. Mani’s remarks against Ms. Rema were not inadvertent, as the ruling party sees a wide support base for Ms. Rema and the RMPI in its strongholds. Recently, the CPI(M) has been targeting Ms Rema inside and outside the Assembly for her critical remarks against the policies of the Left government.
However, the issue also took a different turn when women Congress workers protested against Mr. Mani with a cut-out of a chimpanzee on his face. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Sudhakaran justified the act and initially insulted Mr. Mani, but later apologized for the comment via a Facebook post. A woman colleague of the Congress also apologized.
CPI(M)’s failure
None of the CPI(M) women legislators distanced themselves from Mr. Mani’s remarks. Despite Kerala having the highest rating on the Human Development Index in India, only 12 of the 140 MLAs are women. It consists of 10 members of LDF. Ms Rema was the only woman leader of the Congress-led UDF until Uma Thomas, wife of late senior Congress leader PT Thomas, won the Thrikkakara bypoll last month.
In today’s world where women are claiming their rightful place in all spheres of activity, Mr. Mani has crossed the line of decency by making derogatory remarks against a woman legislator. It is shameful for a legislator to conclude that being a widow is the fate of a woman. The failure of the CPI(M) leadership to hold Mr. Mani accountable in this regard is politically unfair and does not bode well for the democratic traditions of the state.
biju.govind@thehindu.co.in