Kerala HC moved for probe into minister's 'anti-women remarks'

A state native moved the Kerala High Court today seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged "sexually loaded statements" made by Power Minister M M Mani, who has strongly refuted the accusations.
In his petition to the court, Kerala resident George Vattukulam accused Mani of making sexually-loaded, anti-woman statements at a public meeting in Kunchithanni.
George quoted the minister as saying that the women leaders and "Pembilai Orumai," the women activists of plantation workers in hilly Idukki district had regularly indulged in "an orgy of drinking and other activities" during their month-long stir in Munnar last year.
The petitioner alleged Mani has "now outraged the modesty and used abusive language, sexually loaded statements against more than 10,000 women who participated in a historic struggle."

Mani earlier insulted a woman principal of Painavu Government Polytechnic using abusive language and sexually loaded statements with gestures and later he apologised for that, the petition said.
"The respondent is a habitual offender and regularly uses abusive language and sexually-loaded statements especially against the women," it said.

It also accused Mani of using abusive language against efficient civil service officers.
The high court is expected to take up the petition for hearing on Thursday.
Mani, however, has refuted the allegation against him on the floor of state assembly.
He told the assembly today that he had not used any offencive language against women.

"I have not used the word woman even once in my 17-minute speech," which he claimed had been edited by the media, a section of which was against him.