Kerala PCC chief to the 2013 solar panel scam, in which businessmen and NRIs

werecheatedbytheaccusedwho flaunted their connections at top levels of the

then Oommen Chandy government. One ofthe accused in the case had told
police on Saturday that Congress leader and former
MinisterAPAnilKumarhadraped her severaltimes in 2013. Ramachandran said:
“I was told by a senior police officer that you (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan)
are trying to come out with a woman who is lamenting that she was raped
across Kerala. Chief Minister,do you have pride, do you have shame? If you
have self-respect, you should resign without waiting forasingle day.’’
AfterRamachandran,whowas alsoaMinister in theUPA governmentattheCentre,
returned tohis seat however, other Congress leaders flaggedthedistasteful
references to the woman in his speech, which had been telecast live.
Ramachandran thendecided toexpress “unconditional regret”. “As my remarks
were construed as anti-women by certain quarters, I express my regret
unconditionally,’’ he said. However,theKeralaWomen’s Commission registered
a case against Ramachandran. “The repeatedanti-womenstatements of political
leaders is an insult to Kerala.Such statementscannot be allowed.His apologywas
not sincere,”CommissionchairpersonM C Josephine said. Health and Social
Justice MinisterKK Shailaja took strong exception to Ramachandran’s
commentthatarape victim with self-respect would end her life. “Only persons
with a dangerous mentality cansay such things. Do rape victims who do not
commit suicide have no self-respect? Did he mean that? Politicians should not
repeatedly make such antiwomencomments,’’Shailajasaid.