The row over Kerala Electricity Minister MM Mani’s public rant dragging in women's organisation Pembilai Orumai shows no signs of abating. 

Mani now claims that media edited and distorted the video of his speech.

“They say I have said something against women. But in my entire speech I have neither used the word ‘woman’, nor mentioned anybody’s name. Media has the entire video of my speech. I kindly request them to telecast it so that everyone can know the truth.

I was speaking against few officers related to Munnar evictions. But media edited it and telecast in such a way that my speech looked like it was against women.

Some media is against me, because in the speech I mentioned about their unholy relationship with bureaucrats. I have criticised the bureaucrats and officers, in a democratic system government has the right to correct officers,” Mani said in a a clarification read out in the state assembly on Tuesday.

The Minister also said that the news about Pembilai Orumai’s protest was false. He alleged that only six women were protesting against him and among that was Sobha Surendran (BJP leader) and Bindu Krishna (Congress leader).

“Gomathi, who claims to be a Pembilai Orumai leader is not even in the list of the group's leaders. Some media people and BJP tried to get more protestors but they did not get,” Mani alleged.

Mani has been criticised for his crude language against Idukki sub-collector and others. He claimed that having been a labourer and brought up among lower strata of society, he did not know how to speak in a polished manner.

“I speak the language of the poor people. I don’t know how to speak in polished language. I don’t know the language of Professors. I have not insulted women, there are women in my home and village, I have respected them, they know that well,” he said.

Meanwhile, contrary to his earlier statement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan backed MM Mani in the state assembly on Tuesday.

Earlier, the CM had told media that MM Mani's statement was not made in good sense. But in the assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan said that Mani had been speaking in the rustic language from his area.

“The slang common in his place has influenced his language. Such situations are being fabricated and used for political gains,” the CM explained.