Thiruvananthapuram, 31 August (H.S.):Kerala Minister for social welfare Bindu Krishna has strongly criticised Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar over his controversial remarks on women, describing his position as unacceptable to Kerala’s progressive society.

Bindu Krishna said India was founded on the principle that every person must be treated equally, irrespective of gender. Women had reached the social mainstream only after sustained struggles by generations of reformers and progressive-minded citizens against discrimination and oppressive customs, she said.

Highlighting the achievements of women in different fields, the minister said girls and women were excelling in competitive examinations and building successful careers based on their abilities and interests. Women had also demonstrated their leadership skills as elected representatives and administrators, particularly in local self-government institutions.

She pointed out that India currently has a woman President and recalled that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had led the country for several years. These examples, she said, underlined the significant role played by women in governance and nation-building.

Bindu Krishna said every child born into the world was equally entitled to all the opportunities and blessings of life. Any view seeking to restrict women’s participation in public life could not serve as a model for Kerala, India or the wider world.

While acknowledging an individual’s freedom to express an opinion, the minister stressed that women enjoyed equal rights and status under the Constitution. Citizens were free to practise a religion or choose not to follow one, but religious belief should coexist with respect for constitutional values and gender justice, she added.

The minister welcomed the support extended by Kerala’s civil society to women pursuing education, employment and leadership roles. Many women were successfully heading local bodies across the state and proving themselves to be capable administrators.

Calling upon women to remain confined to their homes was entirely out of step with contemporary society and would not be accepted by the people of Kerala, Bindu Krishna said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman