Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson resigns over insensitive comment on domestic violence victim

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson M C Josephine resigned from the post on Friday following her insensitive comment on a domestic violence victim who approached the women's commission during a live phone-in show on a TV channel.

MC Josephine tendered her resignation on the direction of CPI(M) State Secretariat. The State Secretariat demanded her resignation citing widespread protest against her damaging the party's image.

MC Josephine who is also party's central committee member was forced to resign eight months before the completion of her tenure in the post.

Earlier, a video clip of the controversial remarks by the women's commission has gone viral on social media.

However, the women's commission denied the allegation claiming that she did not mean anything wrong while replying to the woman who complained of domestic violence.

"The women's commission attending several complaints every day goes through severe mental stress. We all are human beings. The commission is unable to reach everywhere to attend such large number of complaints, hence requested the woman to complain before the police," she justified.

But, a section of people took this an opportunity to misinterpret and blame the commission, she added.

During the TV show, Josephine who was irritated for not complaining to the police by the woman on the domestic violence against her, said "then, it is better to undergo the hardships from the in-laws and husband."

She said this when 24-year-old woman, Lebina, was narrating her difficulties faced at her in-laws house.

Demanding her resignation, Mahila Congress activists staged a protest march in front of CPI(M) state office, 'AKG Centre', this morning.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan and other Congress leaders demanded the resignation of the Josephine for her insensitive comment against the woman. (UNI)