Congress's poll-day trouble: Adoor Prakash backs Dileep, mocks govt on actress assault case verdict, flips after backlash

The Congress's posturing as a united front with steely resolve to decry sexual crimes against women barely lasted a week. UDF Convener Adoor Prakash's off-the-cuff, scornful remark on the government's decision to file an appeal against the verdict in the actress assault case landed heavily on the Congress on Tuesday. 

The timing could not have been any worse as he made his comment on Tuesday, when seven districts voted in the phase 1 local body elections. The party went into the polls, thinking that the expulsion of Rahul Mamkootathil MLA, accused of rape and forceful abortion, could work in its favour, and it has boosted its image as a pro-women party capable of taking a bold stand against sexual predators. 

Adoor Prakash's comments dented that image. He mocked at the government, saying that it had no other job and hence wanted to file an appeal. He also showed where his sentiments lay. "Even while saying that we are all with the survivor, we must also recognise that everyone deserves justice. As far as Dileep is concerned, he has now received justice. Dileep himself has said that senior police officers were involved in a conspiracy to frame him," he said. He even added that he had a personal relationship with the actor. 

The CPM, which had ample trouble defending allegations that the party had always guarded leaders who faced serious sexual abuse charges, swiftly turned the tables on Congress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was in the middle of a press meet in Kannur, wondered over the strange nature of Adoor Prakash's comments. He said that Prakash's thoughts did not echo popular sentiment and that they reflected the UDF's attitude. Other CPM Ministers and leaders also joined the chatter on the poll day.

Education Minister V Sivankutty said that it was for the voters to judge the statement made by Adoor Prakash on the actress assault case and Dileep. Law Minister P Rajeev also slammed Adoor Prakash for his comments regarding the government's decision to file an appeal in the case. Minister for Culture Saji Cherian and Health Minister Veena George also condemned Prakash's remarks. CPI, too, pitched in with the State Secretary Binoy Viswam, casting doubts over the actual stand of the Congress while dealing with sexual predators. 

KPCC was quick to sense the trouble that loomed on the polling day. A party that painstakingly projected unity hardly a week ago was suddenly scrambling to paper over the cracks. KPCC President Sunny Joseph had no other way but to contradict Adoor Prakash. "The Opposition Leader and I have made our stance clear. The government and prosecution have failed in providing conclusive evidence in the case. The government should go for an appeal," Sunny Joseph said.

Other leaders like M M Hasan and MP Rajmohan Unnithan didn't mince words and stated that it was not proper to blurt out comments in the name of the front and that Prakash's comments are personal.

By then, the message was clear to Prakash. He soon flipped. “My words are being misinterpreted by the media. I have always stood by the survivor. I do believe she has not received justice due to lapses on the part of the prosecution. I was only trying to say that the government erred in ensuring justice for the survivor. The government is trying to save face now,” he said, reportedly after getting a direction from the KPCC to issue a revised statement and clear the air.