Sreelekha should withdraw remarks against Rahul Gandhi, apologise: Chennithala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday demanded that BJP councillor and former DGP R. Sreelekha withdraw her remarks against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and apologise, as complaints mounted over her comments.

Chennithala said Gandhi was a prominent Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition, who was admired and respected across the country. He said Sreelekha should retract her statements and tender an apology.

“What happened to her? Rahul Gandhi is a prominent Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition whom people across India admire, respect and hold in high regard. She should withdraw her remarks against Rahul Gandhi and render an apology,” Chennithala said.

The Home Minister also referred to Sreelekha’s brief resignation as a BJP councillor and her subsequent decision to withdraw it, saying the developments showed that she had “some serious problems”.

The controversy arose after Sreelekha, speaking at a BJP protest meeting in Punalur in Kollam district on Wednesday, criticised Gandhi’s participation in protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She likened his conduct to the agitation of a person under the influence of drugs.

Referring to Gandhi’s description of the protest as a “Thandava”, Sreelekha said the dance was on an entirely different level and compared it to the “frantic behaviour” of a person who had consumed excessive drugs.

Congress leaders accused her of insulting Gandhi and hurting Hindu religious sentiments by linking the Thandava, the cosmic dance associated with Lord Shiva, to drug-induced agitation.

UDF leader and councillor K.S. Sabarinadhan filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner, alleging that the remarks insulted the LoP and hurt Hindu sentiments. He had earlier demanded that Sreelekha withdraw the statement, warning of legal action if she did not do so.

The Youth Congress also approached the police. Its state vice-president, Vishnu Sunil Pandalam, filed a complaint with the Director General of Police seeking registration of a case against Sreelekha.

Reports said another complaint had been registered against her in Kollam in connection with the remarks.

The controversy has added to political tensions in Kerala, with the Congress demanding an apology and action over the alleged insult. Police action on the complaints is expected to determine the next course of the matter.

(Inputs from IANS)