By Express News Service
MALAPPURAM: Amidst the continuing criticism over AMMA's alleged anti-women stance triggered by its reinstatement of accused actor Dileep, CPM leader Brinda Karat on Friday lashed out at the association.
The Politburo member said that the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes' stand has humiliated Kerala, which has emerged as a role model in retaining democratic values and progressive thoughts. She was inaugurating the annual national seminar, EMS' World, organised by the party at Wandoor.
The senior leader urged AMMA functionaries to withdraw its decision to reinstate the accused actor. "The film body shouldn't turn into a collective of male chauvinists. The outfit should correct its anti-women stand," Brinda said.
The former general secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association told the functionaries to ensure justice to the attacked actress.
Brinda, whose speech dwelled largely on attacking AMMA, called for joint efforts to oppose the decision of the association. "An anti-woman stand and mass lynching don't suit Kerala's progressive society, which upholds democratic credentials. Democracy means not only votes. It means taking a fair stand. Justice for women is confined to not only providing them with legal assistance. It means standing in support of and in solidarity with her. All who think progressively should join hands against the injustice," she said.
Actor Dileep is an accused in the February 2017 actress kidnapping case which took place in Kochi, that landed him in a Kerala jail for 85 days. AMMA is under fire under fire from several quarters over their decision to reinstate into the artistes' body.
Amidst the misogyny row and complaints on "male dominance" in the industry, Malayalam actresses Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan and actor-director Geethu Mohandas, who are the popular faces of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) resigned from AMMA. The first to resign from the Association was the actress-survivor.
(With inputs from online desk)
