A day after Kerala Women’s Commission Chairperson MC Josephine’s remark in a Malayalam new channel sparked row, Josephine resigned from the post. The decision was announced following the CPI(M) state secretariat meeting. Josephine had received sharp criticism from scores on social media and outside, against her rude reply to a Kochi native woman who called her to inform about domestic violence in a phone-in programme conducted by a Malayalam news channel. Opposition parties, including the Congress and BJP, had demanded the resignation of MC Josephine from the post.
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.
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.
