‘Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion’: Trouble brews for Rahul Mamkootathil within Youth Congress

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Congress leadership in Kerala struggled to counter the allegations against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, a few Youth Congress leaders broke ranks and publicly expressed their dissent through social media posts.

Haripad Youth Congress leader Sneha R V spoke out, stressing the right to question leaders. “If mistakes are found, questions will be asked. I will express my opinions—because I am a human being capable of responding,” she wrote on Facebook. She added that she would never ‘stab someone from behind’ but would not remain veiled in silence either. “Let truth prevail,” she said.

"I am not saying that any one particular individual is guilty. But when there are many complaints, it is our moral obligation to investigate and give courage to those who raise their voices. We are part of an institution led by women leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. If workers like me do not speak up for fellow women, then who will? What is the point of arguing for a 50:50 representation if we cannot assure safety for one half?" Sneha told Onmanorama.

"I have been part of the Congress since 2012. Since then, there has been a considerable increase in the number of women activists in the party. We must ensure that these women have a safe space to confide their fears and concerns without the risk of exposure or bullying. This should not be the case in Congress alone, but across all political parties. At present, many women hesitate to file a formal complaint because they fear being victimised by others," she said.

Dr Jinto John, a prominent Youth Congress voice, published a lengthy post supporting the actress who had raised the allegation against Mamkootathil in a YouTube interview. “Our girls must become bold enough to name the predators they face,” he said, emphasising that the survivor has the right to decide when to speak out. He also rejected the comparisons being drawn between the actress and Saritha Nair, saying such character assassinations were unjustified.

At the same time, Jinto John urged the survivor to reveal the name of the accused leader to prevent suspicion from falling on all young Congress leaders. “True feminism means not letting even one innocent person remain under a shadow of suspicion,” he argued. He also said that while the party can act within ethical limits, full justice could only come through legal recourse.

State Youth Congress vice president Advocate Vishnu Sunil was also among the first to react. Quoting the adage “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion,” he said that mistakes, whether by individuals or movements, must be corrected. In a strongly worded note, he wrote that as a husband, father of two girls, and son, he could no longer remain silent when trust in leaders was at stake. “If I remain silent, the loving chains of trust will become meaningless... this is not a battle of vengeance, but only the worries of a father and a prayer that trust should not break,” he said.

The posts, unusual for an organisation like the Congress, reflect the unease within the Youth Congress over the controversy. Rahul Mamkootathil had resigned from the post of Youth Congress President following sexual harassment allegations against him. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said the matter would be probed with “all seriousness.”Satheesan noted that Rahul resigned from the post of Youth Congress president within 24 hours of the allegations surfacing. “This is despite the absence of any formal complaint against him. We will investigate the matter with all seriousness and take a decision without compromise,” he said. He also warned Congress workers against cyberbullying the survivors. “We will take action against those resorting to such behaviour,” he added.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi, said Rahul’s resignation was voluntary. “There is no complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil yet from any woman or family. He resigned from the post of Youth Congress president due to his moral obligation. There was no pressure from the party’s side. This chapter is over,” she told reporters.

Vadakara MP Shafil Parambil, also known for being close to Rahul Mamkootathil, said that the resignation without any formal complaint, FIR or court order was ‘more moral obligation’ than shown by any CPM or BJP leaders who had actual sexual assault cases against them.