Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Women’s Commission chairperson MC Josephine on Friday tendered resignation from her post after her comment on a domestic abuse victim received widespread flak.
Josephine had been at the helm of the commission since 2017.
Josephine, during a phone-in-show on Manorama News, took a call from a woman from Ernakulam district who said that she was being subjected to torture from her husband and mother-in-law. When the women’s commission chief asked her why she hadn’t approached the police, the caller said she didn’t tell anybody. To which, Josephine responded, “Enna pinne anubhavicho! (Oh, then you suffer!)”
All through the call, Josephine was barely at ease. Later, she advised the complainant to approach the family court so that her family can be compensated. “Did you understand what I said? If you don’t want to live with your husband, you should get a good lawyer and approach the family court to get the dowry back and compensation,” she said.
To another caller on the show, she said, “What you did was stupidity. After you got separated, why did you go for a compromise? You had one more child…let me talk. You can’t just go on talking…women are the ones who make all the mistakes.”
Her comments drew severe criticism across social media, with several demanding her immediate removal.
In a meeting of the CPM state secretariat on Friday, Josephine was asked to explain her comments. Despite her clarification, she was asked to step down and many members have censured her for making such remarks despite assuming a constitutional post.