Is Pinarayi Vijayan’s ‘Love you to the moon and back’ cup really a message to sexual assault victim?

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reportedly expressed solidarity with the survivor in the sexual assault case involving Rahul Mamkoottathil.

During the LDF Satyagraha protest, the CM held a cup inscribed with the words “Love you to the moon and back”, a phrase the survivor had used in a Facebook post following Mamkoottathil’s arrest. The image of the CM holding the cup quickly went viral on social media.

Facebook Post of the Survivor

The survivor’s post, shared after the arrest, detailed the trauma and emotional pain she endured. She wrote about the forced abortion and the exploitation she suffered, stating:

"Dear God, thank you for giving me the courage to move forward through all the pain, judgments, and betrayals. You saw what he did in the darkness. You heard the cries that never reached the world. You held us close when our bodies were violated and when our babies were snatched away by force. May those little angels forgive us from heaven."

She also added a heartfelt note to her children, writing:

"May the souls of those little angels rest in peace. Mothers will cherish you in our hearts until we meet again. My little one, Mom loves you immensely."

She concluded the note by saying the children would forever remain in their mothers’ hearts. “Your spirit matters. Kunjatta Amma loves you to the moon and back,” she wrote.

Rahul Mamkoottathil’s Arrest

Rahul Mamkoottathil, the expelled Congress MLA, was arrested based on a complaint filed via email by a woman from Pathanamthitta. The complaint alleged brutal sexual assault, forced abortion, and financial exploitation. The woman stated that she met Mamkoottathil through social media, and he had promised to marry her if they had a child.

By holding the cup with the survivor’s words during the protest, CM Pinarayi Vijayan expressed moral support and highlighted the need for justice. The act resonated with social media users and reinforced public attention on the survivor’s plight.

The gesture and the survivor’s moving post have prompted widespread discussion on social media about support for victims of sexual assault and the responsibilities of political leaders.