Ker CM slams state Cong chief's jibe at health minister

Thiruvananthapuram: As the state Congress chief stuck to his ‘COVID Rani’ jibe against health minister KK Shailaja and refused to apologize, Chief Minister Pinarayi  Vijayan on Saturday, June 20 slammed the remarks as ‘anti-women’ and an attempt to target one leading the battle against COVID-19.

The Chief Minister said remarks by such leaders in responsible positions were unfortunate and that the health minister was being targeted for doing her duty.

The attempt by the KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran was to torpedo the health system in the midst of the pandemic, he told reporters here.

“The attack against the minister was due to a peculiar mindset and was anti-women. It is regrettable that the KPCC president has stooped to such a level”, Vijayan said.

He pointed out that no Congress leader in the state or in Delhi had so far reacted to the remarks.

Mullapally Ramachandran was suffering from “political cataract” and was unable to see the reality, Vijayan said, adding his remarks were an insult to the state.

The Chief Minister said playing politics with people’s lives cannot be allowed.

“Do not play politics with the lives of people. Their lives are more important,” he said.

Vijayan said that the attack against the minister was only for getting plaudits from his followers and was regrettable.

Ramachandran had on Friday alleged that Shailaja was trying to get the label of “COVID Rani” (COVID Queen).

He had also said that during the Nipah outbreak, Shailaja camped in Kozhikode as a ‘guest artist’ and tried to become the ‘Nipah Rajakumari’ (Nipah princess).