KL This Week: BJP State President Booked for Defamatory Remarks on Women CPI(M) Leaders

NewsClick brings a round-up of the happenings across Kerala including the death of former MP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) supporter Innocent, cases being filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Surendran for derogatory comments against CPI(M) women leaders, and hartal observed by residents of 13 villages in Idukki opposing the high court ban on capturing an elephant on a rampage. 

RENOWNED ACTOR INNOCENT CREMATED WITH STATE HONOURS

Innocent, 75, former MP from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and a staunch supporter of the CPI(M) who has acted in more than 700 films passed away on March 26, 2023, in a private hospital after a prolonged struggle with cancer. He had won from the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 as an LDF-backed independent after his recovery from cancer. 

Innocent, headed the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for 18 years till 2018. Though ill health limited his screen presence, he contested in Chalakudy again in 2019 as a CPI(M) candidate, but lost. 

Leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and renowned film artists mourned the death of the renowned actor who made appearances in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films in his 51-year film career. 

He was the author of seven books, including one on his own experience as a cancer survivor titled, Laughter at Cancer Ward. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, leader of opposition V D Satheesan, leaders from political parties, and the Malayalam film industry paid their respects to their dear comrade and leader. 

Innocent had a splendid stint as a parliamentarian, contrary to celebrity members who had poor attendance and low participation in debates and raising questions. His speech in Parliament about setting up mobile cancer detection centres won him recognition across political parties. 

CASE AGAINST BJP PRESIDENT FOR MISOGYNY

The derogatory comments on women leaders of the CPI(M) have resulted in a case being filed against K Surendran, the president of the BJP Kerala state unit. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) filed complaints against the BJP leader with the police and women's commission.

Surendran, however, claimed that the comment was political and was not targeted at any individual leaders. Reacting strongly to the misogynistic comments, the DYFI took out a protest in Thiruvananthapuram on March 29. 

DYFI held a march and held a protest in front of the secretariat against the derogatory comments made by BJP state president K Surendran. (Courtesy: DYFI Kerala)

Surendran passed derogatory and racist remarks against the CPI(M) women leaders in a programme organised by the BJP Mahila Morcha on March 26 in Thrissur. The CPI(M) and the Congress leadership strongly condemned the remarks of Surendran.

IDUKKI VILLAGERS OBSERVE HARTAL

A dawn to dusk hartal was observed by 10 village panchayats on March 30 in the Idukki district against the high court stay on capturing a wild elephant named ‘Arikomban’. The government of Kerala was preparing to launch a mission to capture the tusker but the Kerala High Court has stayed the operation and has sought advice from an expert panel other than capturing the elephant. 

The residents of the villages blocked the roads against the court’s intervention, as the tusker has reportedly trampled seven people to death. Several residents have complained of the elephant destroying crops and settlements including ration shops to take away rice bags after which the elephant was referred to as Arikomban (Ari-rice, Komban-tusker). 

The high court has only permitted the forest department to tranquilise and fix radio collars to monitor the movement of the elephant. The minister for forest, A K Saseendran, said that the court order has further complicated the issue affecting several tribal colonies and settlements of estate workers. 

INTERNAL SCUFFLE IN CONGRESS CONTINUES

The internal scuffle in Congress continues with MP K Muraleedharan accusing the leadership of denying him permission to speak at an event organised to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ‘Vaikom Struggle’. The son of Congress stalwart K Karunakaran is at loggerheads with the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership.

Another MP in conflict with the KPCC, Shashi Tharoor, has come out in support of Muraleedharan, stating that disrespecting him could be a mistake on the part of the KPCC. Muraleedharan has functioned as the president of the KPCC.

After continuously being sidelined, Muraleedharan has asked the party to find another candidate for the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency which he represents now. 

2 KILLED IN LIGHTENING

Two people were killed due to lightning in Mundakayam in the Kottayam district on March 29. The deceased were identified as Sunil and Ramesh. 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms till April 2 in districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Wayanad.

The IMD warned the fishermen to stay safe from high tides and rough seas and advised them to keep their boats safe on the shores.