By P. Sreekumaran
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a shocking remark, Kerala Transport Minister C. P.John has landed himself in a major controversy with his insulting remarks against women in the State. In a tasteless remark, John accused a significant section of women in the State of pretending to be poor to avail themselves of free-of-charge travel on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Ordinary-class services under the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government’s flagship Priyadarshini free travel (women empowerment) scheme.
The minister made the shocking remark at the State conference of the Kerala Bus Transport Association (KBTA), an organization of private bus owners in the State, which has opposed ticketless travel for women on KSRTC buses. The Government’s ill-thought-out decision has caused a big drop in their ticket collection revenue.
John added insult to injury by making the sarcastic remark that women who do not have money and scramble to travel free on KSRTC buses send their children to expensive private schools! “A remarkable set of histrionic skills is necessary for a rich person to act poor. As a person who knows about behavioural science, he was perplexed by such baffling manners peculiar to Keralites, John commented, to the utter shock of thousands of women who depend on KSRTC buses. He compounded his offence by contending that the same segment of women, however, avoid private hospitals and take their parents and husbands to crowded government hospitals, where patients are often forced to sleep on verandahs.
Expectedly, the tasteless comments have touched off a wave of anger across the State forcing the Minister to soften his statement. He denied having insinuated that women availing themselves of the free travel facility were “mimicking poverty.” In a U-turn, John stated that he had only highlighted the poignancy and sadness of daily deprivations of life that is the lot of a large segment of homemakers in Kerala!
He went on to take refuge behind the statement of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who “opened the eyes of the society to their privation” by announcing the Priyadarshini scheme. What forced women to depend on KSRTC buses was not loyalty to KSRTC but financial difficulties, he added.
Needless to say, John’s insensitive remarks against women have forced the UDF Government on to the backfoot. The Government is finding it extremely hard to put a lid on the controversy, the minister’s clarification notwithstanding. Many pro-CPI(M) and BJP social media handles blasted John for making “misogynistic” comments and “pandering to the predatory public health sector” by belittling government hospitals.
All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) leader and CPI(M) Central Committee member P. K. Sreemathi was strongly critical of the UDF Government’s denial of poverty and demeaning of women who avail themselves of the free travel scheme. John should retract the “patriarchal, sexist and sanctimonious judgment of women”, she opined, adding that the Minister had overlooked the social reality that homemakers reduce expenses and save whatever resources they can to ensure their children’s future and the family’s welfare.
BJP leader Karamana Jayan went to the extent of demanding the resignation of John who has insulted Kerala women.
However, in a shocking decision, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Deepthi Mary Varghese has made bold to defend John. She would have the people believe that the Minister was only trying to highlight the scheme as “emblematic” of the UDF’s profound respect for women!
Incidentally, John is not alone in making controversial remarks. Health Minister K. Muralidharan earned the wrath of fishermen by making a shocking remark. When asked by presspersons about the delay in tracing missing fishermen, the Minister said the search was on and it would take time to retrieve the bodies!
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan has sought an apology from John for his highly objectionable comments. His controversial remarks smacked of a patriarchal mindset, which has no place in an enlightened State like Kerala. Govindan reminded the UDF Government that it cheated thousands of women by going back on the original commitment to make travel free for women on all types of KSRTC buses. But immediately after assuming power, it shocked the women in Kerala by stating that the scheme was limited to ordinary buses! The unkindest cut was the Satheesan Government’s callous act in ending the scheme to ensure protection to women, effectively implemented by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government.
It goes without saying that it is high time UDF ministers put an end to such controversial remarks and insulting comments. Failure to do that would cause the Government’s downfall sooner than later. A statement by a Congress leader himself encapsulates the strong sense of revulsion among the people over the shocking state of affairs. He reminded his party leaders and Government by stating that those who helped them come to power are also capable of unseating them. (IPA Service)
