IUML leader's misogynistic remarks against U Prathibha: Kayamkulam police register case

Alappuzha: The Kayamkulam police have registered a case against Muslim League leader A Irshad following his alleged derogatory and defamatory remarks against MLA U Prathibha. The current police action follows the Alappuzha District Collector's directive, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming assembly polls, for which Prathibha is the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Kayamkulam.

Irshad made the remarks against the MLA during an election convention. In the wake of the controversy, the Muslim League suspended him from the party, and the United Democratic Front (UDF) removed him from the alliance's Kayamkulam assembly constituency convener post. 

Irshad is booked under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman or intruding upon her privacy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 120 (public nuisance and violating public order) of the Kerala Police (KP) Act and 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the IT Act. 

Earlier, the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) examined media reports and social media posts related to the incident and forwarded them to the district-level committee on the Model Code of Conduct. A screening committee, chaired by the Collector, also the district election officer, reviewed the materials, including video clips, and found a prima facie violation.

Based on this, the police have been directed to register a case, including offences related to outraging the modesty of a woman, making baseless allegations during elections, spreading false statements that could influence the electoral outcome, and defamation.

During the election convention, Irshad made personal remarks against Prathibha, questioning her performance as a public representative and targeting her appearance and personal life. He alleged that she was attempting to face the electorate again by "selling her oratory skills and physical beauty," and made insinuations about her personal and family background.

The remarks triggered sharp backlash from across political circles, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also condemning the statements.

Prathibha is seeking a third consecutive term in Kayamkulam, widely considered an LDF stronghold. The controversy is likely to impact the campaign dynamics in the constituency, posing a challenge for the UDF and its candidate M Liju.