Kerala CPI(M) leader’s remark on headscarf lands party in soup

CPI(M) leader K Anil Kumar

An alleged controversial remark made by a senior CPI(M) leader regarding the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women in Kerala has landed the ruling party in soup with several religious outfits and scholars coming out against it.

As the issue triggered a huge political row, the Marxist party rejected the comment by K Anil Kumar, a state committee member, saying choice of clothing is the fundamental right of an individual and there was no need for the party to express any opinion on that.

The opposition Congress strongly criticised the ruling party and termed his statements as "inappropriate and absurd". Later in the day, Anil Kumar in a Facebook post said he would uphold his party's stand in the matter.

While speaking at a recent event organised by esSENSE Global, an atheist outfit, Kumar said that it was due to the influence of the Marxist party that the women of the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district had abandoned "thattam", the headscarf.

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