A day after her alleged insensitive remarks sparked a row in Kerala, the Women’s Commission chairperson MC Josephine resigned on Friday, as women activists of the opposition Congress and BJP took out protest marches against her comment.
Josephine, a central committee member of the ruling CPI(M), had courted controversy when she spoke harshly to a woman complainant of domestic violence during a live television programme of a Malayalam channel on Wednesday, causing embarrassment to the Marxist party.
The matter was discussed at the state secretariat, which met on Friday, and attended by top party leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
She explained her stand with regard to the comments in the state secretariat and expressed willingness to step down from the post, which was duly accepted by the party, CPI(M) state secretary in-charge A Vijayaraghavan later told reporters.
“Her comments were not appropriate. She expressed regret. The state secretariat discussed the matter today where Josephine explained her stand and expressed regret on the lapses on her part.She also expressed willingness to step down from the post as chairperson of the commission. The party accepted that,” he said.
MC Josephine is the Kerala Women’s Commission Chairperson. She has been heading the women’s panel since 2017 and is a senior member of the CPM central committee.
On June 23, Josephine made rude comments when a woman from Ernakulam district of Kerala called in during a live show on Manorama news to complain of torture at the hands of her husband and mother-in-law. Josephine enquired if she should approach to the Police, to which the woman replied that she didn’t tell anyone. After listening to this, Josephine snapped back, saying, “Enna pinne anubhavicho! (Oh, then you suffer!)”. She also advised the woman to approach the family court so that her family can be compensated.
The woman caller on the show was trying to explain her plight, however, Josephine told her to “suffer” for not going to the police to file a complaint against her husband and mother-in-law.
The comment made by Josephine sparked a row leading to Opposition parties calling for her sacking as the chief of the women’s panel.
After facing backlash, Josephine in her first reaction on June 24 said she did not make such a comment and her statements were being twisted. Josephine apologised for her comment in the evening after protests intensified.