The Guardian newspaper today became the fulcrum of political controversy in Kerala, thanks to its article on Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, who it called a "rockstar". The politics of Kerala, at least for a day, revolved around the meaning or rather the 'demeaning' sense of that term.
It all started with KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran mockingly calling Health Minister K.K. Shailaja "COVID Queen" and "Nipah princess'' yesterday. It evoked protests from all quarters as the Health Minister is the face of Kerala's valiant resistance against the novel coronavirus.
All news media carried it prominently and prominent dailies including Malayala Manorama wrote editorials criticizing the KPCC president for making fun of Shailaja Teacher.
The Congress leader, however, tried to justify his remarks by saying that it was The Guardian which had called her the rock star. "It was the Guardian newspaper published from London which called the Health Minister a Rock star... I don't know much about modern dance... But it has called her a 'rock dancer' of Kerala...'' Mullappally today said while explaining his statement.
This evoked further criticism from all corners and social media was flooded by memes on the KPCC president. There was outrage across the country with senior women leaders of various parties demanding that the KPCC president apologise. But Mullappally said he would not apologise.
Meanwhile, the author of the article, Laura Spinney, joined in. "If Mullappally wishes to politicise the story, that is his prerogative,'' she tweeted. She also said that Shailaja Teacher had already been called a rock star and that she was just quoting others in the article.
The political drama got a leg up in the evening press conference of Kerala CM Pinrayai Vijayan who vehemently criticised the KPCC president for using demeaning descriptions against the Health Minister. "By attacking the Health Minister who is leading Kerala's fight against COVID-19 day and night, the KPCC president is trying to weaken the state. Nobody should play politics with the lives of people,'' said the CM.
Quoting the editorial written by Malayala Manorama, the CM said that the KPCC president's words are a "shame not just to the Congress party but to [all of] Kerala. Stating that the comments were "anti-woman'', the CM asked why the Congress national leadership was sitting silent as the KPCC president insulted women.
"They should correct him,'' he said.
The CM also criticised the Congress for taking out a march to the hospital where the husband of Lini, the nurse who had died fighting Nipah, is working. He had yesterday protested against Mullappally's "Nipah Princess'' comment against Shailaja teacher.
"Lini is someone who sacrificed her life while helping Kerala in its fight against Nipah... The entire state considers her as a daughter and we all are with her family,'' the CM said.
Even as the state politics revolved around the controversy over KPCC president's "rockstar'' faux pas, the state reported its highest number of daily COVID-19 cases today—127. Of this, 87 have come from abroad and 36 from other states. The remaining four cases are through contacts including one who was a healthcare worker. According to data, 57 people got cured today and there are 1,450 undergoing treatment right now. Out of 2413 infected persons who became positive after the Lockdown was lifted, 2165 are NRKs, as per the data.
