Kannur (Keralam), Sep 6 (PTI) Congress leadership on Sunday rallied behind Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who came under attack from Sunni Muslim organisations for expressing disagreement with Islamic scholar Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks on women’s public appearance, and asserted that the party firmly stands by his position.
Kanthapuram’s remarks that bringing women onto public platforms would lead to “great destruction” triggered reactions from several prominent people, including Satheesan, who described the view as an idea from the 19th century.
Several Islamic organisations came out in support of Kanthapuram and criticised Satheesan for his stand.
Suprabhatam, the mouthpiece of the EK Sunni faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul
Ulama, has strongly criticised Satheesan for his remarks.
As a debate over women’s freedom in Islam intensifies in Keralam, KPCC president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said that Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s disagreement with Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks on women’s public participation was meaningful.
Speaking to reporters in Kannur, Joseph said the Congress is a secular party that respects freedom of opinion and recognises everyone’s right to follow their own way of functioning.
“There may be disagreement with certain opinions, and the Chief Minister expressing that disagreement was meaningful. The Congress party stands firmly on that position,” he said.
Joseph said the Congress gives the highest importance to women’s empowerment and cited the presence of women as presidents of all six panchayats in the Peravoor constituency.
“It was Congress that made the law (for women’s representation), and it is Congress that encourages them. Indira Gandhi was made Prime Minister by the Indian National Congress. The first woman President of the country was also made by the Indian National Congress. Sonia Gandhi is still the invincible, supreme leader of Congress. Therefore, the Congress organisation gives immense importance to women’s empowerment,” he said.
Kanthapuram on Saturday said that Shariat will continue to be proclaimed even if it is opposed.
Joseph said the Congress Political Affairs Committee recently appreciated the functioning of the UDF government and cited various initiatives taken during the Onam season.
“The Food Department, Tourism Department and Cooperation Department all took the lead and performed well,” he said.
Joseph said he had told the last KPCC meeting that if there were any remaining issues, they were in the Electricity Department, which is under his charge.
On the electricity situation, Joseph said the issue is being resolved and attributed the present shortage to the cancellation of a long-term power purchase agreement during the previous government.
“The main issue in Kerala is the cancellation of the long-term agreement that was available during Aryadan Muhammed’s tenure at Rs 4.29 per unit. We used to get 465 MW. Right now, the issue facing Kerala is a shortage of around 500 MW,” he said.
Joseph said the state is now forced to purchase power at around Rs 10 per unit and even power at that price is not always available.
“After cancelling the agreement that offered power at Rs 4.29, power is now being purchased at Rs 10, and even at Rs 10, it is unavailable. That is the situation in India,” he said.
Regarding the clash between MLA Remya Haridas and party workers in Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram district, Joseph said differences within a large political organisation should be handled with restraint.
“In a large party, there might be a lack of attention from some individuals involved. There could be local issues, or cases where those issues couldn’t be resolved. When disagreements increase in the political arena, they should be handled with restraint,” he said.
Joseph said an inquiry is underway and necessary steps will be taken based on its findings.
He said the Congress is a strong democratic party where anyone can criticise anyone, but public criticism of party colleagues is not acceptable to him.
“Anyone can criticise anyone. But public criticism is not something people like me accept. It should be raised in party committees, forums, or directly. In my opinion, airing such matters to the media is not right,” he said.
On the possibility of a KPCC reshuffle as he is holding both the party president’s post and the Electricity portfolio, Joseph said he will continue in his present position until a new president is appointed.
“Right now, as it is, I am the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. I will act upon. Whenever a new president arrives, according to the culture and tradition of Congress, I will hand over charge to him right then,” he said. PTI TBA TBA ROH
