Kerala Education Minister Demands MLA Rahul Mamkootathil's Resignation Amid Obscenity Charges

Following the resignation of Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil as Kerala Youth Congress president, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty has called for his resignation from the MLA too following the charges of obscene behavior. "If the accused is a public representative, he should resign from that position," Sivankutty commented while adding, "There is a controversial issue which has been discussed in the public sector in Kerala for the last two days."

Serious charges have been made against Mamkootathil, who is a public representative, which is a serious issue. If there is any fear among these women to disclose their names, let them not be afraid. The government will be with them by giving them full protection and support. The government stands for justice. I would also like to remind you of certain legal aspects in this case," the Education Minister of Kerala stated.

"Even if complainants hesitate to disclose their names, they can approach the police and lodge a complaint. Police will file a case and initiate an inquiry. The privacy of the victims will be completely ensured. A woman has disclosed that she has informed the party's highest leadership," he further added. Sivankutty explained that the highest party leaders, who have been briefed on the incident, have a responsibility to report the crime to the police according to law. "Those leaders have some legal obligations. As per the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), if any individual becomes aware of a crime, he/she is bound to inform the police. Failing to report serious crimes to the police is an offense. The government will do justice in this regard. All support will be offered to women to lodge complaints. The law assures that it will follow its course," he said.

Implying that other revelations have surfaced, Sivankutty stated that the concerned public representative has to respond to society and his voters rather than simply resign from his organisation.

More serious disclosures have reached the news media. If the accused is a public representative, this issue will not be addressed by stepping down from organisational roles alone. The individual must account to society, not the organisation. The voters are the power in a democracy," the Education Minister of Kerala had said.

Sivankutty again emphasized that Mamkootathil quits his MLA position and tenders an apology. "Since the charge has been levied, if this individual is a people's representative, he must apologise and step down from his role. Otherwise, the common man, particularly women, will never pardon. I congratulate the sisters who exhibited bravery," he stated.

The "obscene conduct" charges of MLA Mamkootathil have been brought by writer Honey Bhaskaran and model Rini Ann George.

Honey Bhaskaran complained on Facebook that Rahul had messaged her on her social media handle. She claimed that it started with travel, and she replied to it, but there were a series of messages from him. When she realized he had no plans of halting, she blocked him from communicating with her. She stated that she came to learn through Youth Congress volunteers that he badmouthed her, and that she was the one who had started talking to him. Those allegations were made just a few days after Actress and model Rini Ann George alleged that the Congress MLA had sent her objectionable messages to her on several occasions and had also invited her to a hotel. George said that when she threatened to report his party, the leader had dared her to do so. She refused to name the leader or the party.

George asserted she had reported the incident to the party leadership, accusing wives and daughters of various politicians of having similar encounters with the party leader. She asked, "I want to ask which woman these politicians who were not able to protect the women in their own families will protect?"

"I thought of speaking up since I saw recently in social media that there are many women who have gone through this problem. None of those women are saying a word against this. So I thought of raising my voice for all," she said. Earlier on Wednesday, protesting against the allegations, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized a protest march to the residence of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil asking him to resign.