T’PURAM/KOTTAYAM: CPM acting secretary A Vijayaraghavan here on Friday said Women’s Commission chairperson M C Josephine was not removed from the post by CPM.
She stepped down from the post after she expressed her willingness to quit the post and the party accepted it, he said.
“Josephine is a leader who generally intervenes in women’s issues and stands for the protection of their rights.
But a comment she made during a television programme has not gone down well with the general public.
She has also expressed regret.
The party state secretariat discussed the issue.
She explained her part and expressed willingness to resign.
The party accepted it,” Vijayaraghavan told reporters at AKG Centre here on Friday.
Vijayaraghavan refused to say whether or not the party asked Josephine to relinquish the post after her crude and unsavoury reaction to a woman who spoke to her during a live television programme on domestic violence and harassment against women.
“I have clearly said that Josephine has expressed willingness to resign and the party secretariat approved of the same.
It’s very clear.
People can very well understand what I said.
There is enough clarity in that,” he said.
On whether the party would take further action against Josephine for her insensitive comments that put the government in defence, Vijayaraghavan said that the issue was over with her resignation.
Vijayaraghavan said that CPM would run a house campaign from July 1 to 7 to sensitize people on the rise in domestic violence and atrocities against women.
Opposition welcomes moveMeanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan hailed Josephine’s decision to quit the women’s commission chief post as proper, but said that it should have been done earlier.
“Women’s commission is expected to infuse self-confidence in women.
However, the words by Josephine ruined the credibility of the commission.
Even after that, a few people tried to justify her,” he said.