Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode: Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar’s controversial remark on women’s presence in public celebrations triggered a political debate, with ministers and politicians offering diverse responses. On Friday, Kanthapuram had said that women should remain confined to their homes and avoid public platforms.Minister for women and child welfare Bindu Krishna criticised his remarks, saying that fundamental rights are for everyone and that the Constitution guarantees equality for all citizens. “The Constitution treats everyone equally and constitutional principles must be respected. Even our President is a woman. We all have the freedom of expression and the right to practise any religion but the Constitution must be respected,” she said.Ministers K M Shaji and P C Vishnunadh declined to comment on the issue. Shaji got irritated when reporters repeatedly sought his response. “I have decided not to comment on the issue and I won’t change my stand even if questions are repeated. There are people belonging to different ideological streams within the community in Keralam. You may ask them about it,” he said.Vishnunadh, who did not directly address the issue, said the focus should be on ensuring equality and creating greater opportunities for women to participate in all spheres of society. “This comes at a time when women are entering all spheres of society and govt is undertaking initiatives for equality. Let us continue in that direction. I’m not commenting on a specific remark,” he said.But higher education minister Roji M John opposed the idea of restricting women to domestic spaces and termed it regressive. “Women did not move from kitchens to the public stage overnight. Such social progress was achieved through centuries of struggles and sacrifices. It is unfortunate that even in the 21st century, a regressive mindset that seeks to send women back from the stage to the kitchen is being repeated,” he said.CPM central committee member P K Sreemathy also opposed Kanthapuram, saying that no one, or any religious group, has the right to deny the fundamental rights of women and that Kanthapuram’s remarks deeply shamed and insulted women in Kerala, India and around the world. Sreemathy said she respected Kanthapuram as a religious scholar, but women, including herself, could not remain silent when remarks insulting the female community as a whole were made.She said women in India, as citizens, enjoy several constitutional and fundamental rights, including the right to travel, freedom of speech, the right to choose how they dress and access to education and healthcare. “No one, or any religious group, has the right to deny these fundamental rights by claiming that ‘this is our custom’. Such an approach demonstrates a lack of loyalty to the Constitution,” she said.Sreemathy said she later found that he may have been influenced by young Muslim girls and girls from all religions dancing and singing as part of Onam celebrations in higher secondary and VHSE schools.“That is the genuine, inner joy coming from the youth in Kerala, India and around the world. They view it as an opportunity to express that joy. I do not think anyone in today’s times can deter them from that,” she said.Meanwhile, in an apparent reference to the controversy, CPM’s AN Shamseer said religious leaders should not lead society backwards.
