Former AICC member Simi Rosebell John was ousted from the Indian National Congress over her remarks insulting women leaders of the party in a television interview. Simi Rosebell John, a former Kerala PSC member, had hit out against senior leaders in the party for denying her opportunities.
The decision to expel the woman leader was taken by KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, Kerala's principal opposition party said.
According to KPCC, Simi John's remarks amounted to a serious violation of party discipline and intended to mentally hurt lakhs of women workers of the Congress party. Mahila Congress and several KPCC office bearers had demanded disciplinary action against her as the said interview was an attempt to tarnish the image of her female colleagues. She was aided by political rivals of the party in executing this plan, they alleged.
What did Simi Rosebell John say?
In an interview given to a TV channel, Simi Rosebell John said that women leaders need "sponsorship" from party leaders to rise in the ranks. She alleged that women Congress cadres who were not in the good books of party leaders were sidelined.
According to Rosebell John, she was denied certain opportunities in the party due to the objections of leaders like VD Satheesan and Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden.
Kerala's ruling CPI(M), the Congress-led alliance's arch-rival in the state, had used the senior leader's statements to attack Opposition leader VD Satheesan and other party workers. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan had said Simi Rosebell John contended that sexual discrimination existed in the Congress.
