Thiruvananthapuram,Sept 7
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has criticised the state government for registering a case against journalist Aparna Kurup after she spoke out against remarks by Kanthapuram that she considered derogatory to women.
In a statement, Chandrasekhar said the authorities should have protected the journalist, who had reportedly faced death threats and online abuse, instead of naming her as an accused. He described the action as an attack on the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
The BJP leader also accused the Congress government of taking a position that contradicted the party’s public advocacy of women’s rights. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi frequently raised issues concerning women’s safety and equality, the administration in Kerala had failed to stand by a woman journalist facing intimidation, he alleged.
Chandrasekhar claimed that action against those accused of threatening Kurup had been halted under pressure from organisations including the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. He further alleged that cases had been withdrawn because the government was unwilling to confront pressure from Muslim League legislators.
Using unusually sharp language, the BJP state president said the developments were reminiscent of Taliban-style governance. He accused the Congress leadership, which often spoke about press freedom and women’s security, of lacking the courage to support Kurup publicly.
According to Chandrasekhar, the Home Department’s handling of the controversy reflected the same disregard for women that he attributed to Kanthapuram’s remarks. He said Kerala’s voters had not elected the Congress to allow governance to be shaped by religious law or pressure from fundamentalist forces.
The BJP leader demanded that the government explain why the journalist had been booked despite being the target of alleged threats and cyberattacks. The government’s response to his accusations was not immediately available. He called for the case against Kurup to be reviewed without delay.
