THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting was organised in the KPCC office here on Wednesday to commemorate A Nafeesath Beevi, former Assembly Deputy Speaker and Congress leader, who passed away two days ago. Described as a model in public life for her honesty, selfless service and commitment, she was also extolled as a valiant fighter for women’s rights and equality.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated the meet, observed that Nafeesath Beevi had never backed out from party work even in her old age and failing health. Braving all difficulties, she was always in the forefront of party programmes,he noted. “The new generation should learn from her what a person’s commitment to his/her party should be,” Chandy advised. In his presidential remarks, V M Sudheeran said that she was a model Congress worker till her last breath. “By trouncing a veteran like the late T V Thomas in the Assembly polls in Alappuzha, it became a talking point within and outside the state,” Sudheeran recalled.
“She also discharged her duties as the Assembly Deputy Speaker in an admirable manner and earned the respect of all legislators in the House for protecting their rights. She also fought injustice to women tooth and nail,” he said. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that one should know that the foray of Nafeesath Beevi in politics was during an era when Muslim women were reluctant to enter public life. KPCC former president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, DCC president Karakulam Krishna Pillai, Thalekkunnil Basheer, G Balachandran, Lions Club district Governor K A Abbas, Thampanoor Ravi, Bindu Krishna and T Sarat Chandra Prasad spoke.
