Kannur (Kerala): Senior CPM leader and former Health Minister K K Shailaja has sharply criticised the Samastha Kanthapuram faction's statement that displaying women on public roads and stages is improper, describing it as outdated and deeply misogynistic. She expressed her views in a Facebook post.

Shailaja noted in her post that such a statement was uncalled for, coming from an organisation like Samastha, which runs numerous educational and social service institutions.

K K Shailaja's Facebook post
 

“The statement by Samastha that ‘displaying women on public roads and stages is not right’ is outdated and extremely misogynistic.

“Today in Kerala, Muslim women are highly educated and deployed across various walks of life. Among them are MLAs, Municipal Chairpersons, Panchayat Presidents and other public representatives.

“There are judges, lawyers, doctors, teachers, technocrats and workers.

“No religious custom is violated when they gather in public spaces, share platforms at meetings or dine together.

“Confining women inside the house is a feudal practice.

“Coming from Samastha, an organisation that runs numerous educational institutions and social service organisations, such an expression of opinion is entirely improper.”