The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Friday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party ((BJP) and Congress claiming that they were making baseless allegations to malign their party in connection with the sexual harassment allegations against PK Sasi, their MLA from Palakkad district of the state.
The Kerala CPI(M) had said the party is looking into allegations levelled by a woman against the Shornur MLA.
In a statement, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said the Congress, BJP and a section of the media are making baseless allegations to malign the party.
"It was on August 14 that the state party unit got a complaint from the woman against Sasi. He was immediately summoned by the party and his explanation was taken.
"On August 31, a two-member committee of the party comprising state Minister for Culture AK Balan and Kannur Lok Sabha member PK Sreemathi was asked to look into it. Once the committee submits its report appropriate action will be there," said the statement.
Sreemathi, a former State Health Minister, told the media that they are on the job. "It's too early to say anything about it now as we have to meet the woman."
The complainant, a DYFI leader, alleged that MLA Sasi not only sexually harassed her, but also called her up often and spoke to her in an innuendo-laden tone. The CPI(M) woman youth leader had complained to the party's central committee against Sasi, after her complaint to the state leadership was not taken up. The complainant had approached politburo member Brinda Karat, who also failed to act.
The Congress has been critical of the government and also the Kerala State Women's Commission (KSWC) Chairperson MC Josephine, a CPI(M) Central Committee member, after she said since there is no complaint from the woman, nothing can be done. The Congress demanded that the committee be disbanded if it cannot take any action.
State Youth Congress activists on Friday marched to the office of the state police chief in Thiruvananthapuram.