The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Sunday stepped up pressure on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for withdrawal of prohibitory orders in Sabarimala and against the decision to mobilise women to form a human wall on New Year’s day.
The Opposition coalition will organise dharnas in front of the Secretariat and district collectorates in other districts on Monday branding the “women’s wall” as a communal campaign. UDF convener Benny Behanan said that senior leaders of various constituents had been deputed to lead the sit-in in each district. The sit-in programme in Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta will be held on another day as the Congress party will be organising its conventions on Monday.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala shot off another letter to Chief Secretary Tom Jose asking him to withdraw the government order making it mandatory for employees to participate in the women’s wall programme as the revised order still left enough scope for the misuse of public funds.
Fund diversion
The government had partially amended its original order after Mr. Chennithala pointed out to the inconsistencies, removing parts that required the Finance Department to release the necessary funds. The new revised order has put the onus on the Women and Child Development Department to allocate funds for the programme. This does not alter the fact that the department will have to misappropriate funds for the women’s wall from budget allocations approved by the Legislature for other projects.
Mr. Chennithala wondered how the CPI(M) could mobilise women to preserve the values of social reformation when it could not protect the honour of a woman who had complained against legislator P.K. Sasi.