Thiruvananthapuram:
CPM party man Cherian Philip on Facebook has rendered an "unconditional apology" for hurting the sentiments of women.
While referring to a protest by youth Congress workers a few days ago where some of them took off their shirts, the CPM leader made an anti-women remark against Congress workers which has led to widespread criticism.
In an update on his Facebook status, Mr Philip said, "The protest by youth Congress workers was a new model of protest which can be followed. However, this form of protest had been earlier carried out secretly by some women Congress workers and they managed to get tickets."
Besides the flak his comment drew on Facebook, he was strongly criticised by Kerala Congress president, VM Sudheeran and Kerala Mahila Congress president, Bindu Krishna, who demanded a public apology and said "his comment was an insult to all women".
However, the CPM state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan maintained that there was nothing wrong in what Mr Philip had spoken. "I went through the statement and found nothing wrong", he told media persons.
But indicating a drift within the ranks of CPM over the statement, Thomas Issac, a CPM legislator posted his reaction on Facebook saying, "with nearly 60% women moving towards taking on positions in local body elections, it's not right for Cherian Philip to have made such an insulting remark. He should withdraw his statement and end this matter."
Though Mr Philip tendered his apology through Facebook, he said, "I had spoken the truth and the way it was reported and misconstrued has saddened me. I am not the ones who will insult women."