BJP’s Sreelekha and CPI(M)’s V. Joy in a political tit-for-tat over the former DGP’s suitability as a councillor candidate

Former Director General of Police R. Sreelekha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaigner for Sasthamangalam ward successful Thiruvananthapuram, engaged Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] territory secretary, V. Joy, MLA, successful a seemingly light-hearted governmental tit-for-tat. 

Mr. Joy had precocious taken a excavation astatine Ms. Sreelekha’s candidacy, musing openly connected the usefulness of a “former top-ranking serviceman who spent astir of her authoritative beingness shielded by constabulary officers” obligated to respond to ward-level civic exigencies, specified arsenic “disposing of a dormant stray”. 

The CPI(M) legislator from Varkala suggested that apical officers who spent the amended portion of their moving lives successful the ivory operation of bureaucracy were ill-suited to recognize and respond to the travails and tribulations of mean persons. 

Ms. Sreelekha attributed Mr. Joy’s remark to “fear of nonaccomplishment astatine the hustings”.

She disputed the CPI(M)’s insinuation that she was acold removed from the issues plaguing mean families.

“I headed the Fire and Rescue section during the COVID-19 outbreak. I joined volunteers and officers successful cleaning neighbourhoods and supporting civic society. As Director of Prisons, I changed the gloomy ambiance of penitentiaries to that of reform-oriented correctional homes,” she said.

Kuthiyottam controversy

When asked whether she inactive stuck to her arguable presumption that the “Kuthiyottam” ritual astatine Attukal Devi Temple was a kid rights violation, Ms. Sreelekha appeared to excavation her heels successful connected the issue.  

“I bash not question to situation the temple’s tradition. That said, the Kuthiyottam involves piercing the tegument of children with sharp, miniature hooks. It’s an objectionable signifier that has drawn censure from the High Court, which recovered it violated the rights of children and the Juvenile Justice Act. Kodungalloor temple altered people and made the piercing enactment symbolic”, she said.