3 hrs ago
M A Baby Condemns Kanthapuram’s Remarks on Women’s Freedom
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar made comments about limiting women’s presence in public places.
He said women appearing in public could cause great destruction.
Communist Party leader M A Baby strongly disagreed with him.
Baby said women should have equal rights and freedom under India’s Constitution.
He also said similar ideas have been expressed by some groups connected with the RSS.
Baby argued that religion should not be used to reject gender equality.
The comments received widespread criticism.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan was also reported to disagree with them.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby criticized Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks supporting restrictions on women’s presence in public spaces.
Kanthapuram reportedly said women’s public appearance would cause “great destruction” while attending an Islamic event in Kochi.
Baby said the remarks reflected a broader reluctance among religions to recognize gender equality.
He compared Kanthapuram’s position with views Baby attributed to the RSS and its interpretation of Hinduism.
Baby said restrictions on women’s public participation violate India’s constitutional commitment to gender equality.
- Who
- CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby criticized Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks; Chief Minister V D Satheesan was also reported to disagree.
- What
- Baby condemned calls for restrictions on women’s presence in public spaces and said they conflict with constitutional gender equality.
- Where
- Kanthapuram made the remarks at an Islamic event in Kochi; Baby responded in Thiruvananthapuram.
- When
- Kanthapuram made the remarks on a Sunday; PTI reported Baby’s response on September 3.
- Why
- Baby said such views contradict India’s Constitution and legal system, which guarantee gender equality.
Constitutional Equality
Restrictions on Women’s Public Presence
Women in public spaces
Constitutional Equality
M A Baby said women’s freedom and participation in public life are protected by constitutional values and should not be restricted in the name of religion.
Restrictions on Women’s Public Presence
Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar advocated restrictions on women’s presence in public spaces and said their public appearance could cause “great destruction.”
Role of religion
Constitutional Equality
Baby argued that religious interpretations must uphold gender equality and cannot override constitutional values or the legal system.
Restrictions on Women’s Public Presence
Kanthapuram’s reported remarks presented restrictions on women’s public presence as a religiously grounded position.
Key facts
- Main critic
- M A Baby, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Remarks criticized
- Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar advocated restrictions on women’s presence in public spaces.
- Reported wording
- Kanthapuram said women’s public appearance would cause “great destruction.”
- Constitutional principle
- Baby said the Constitution of India guarantees gender equality.
- Political comparison
- Baby alleged that Kanthapuram’s position was similar to views he attributed to the RSS.
- Other reaction
- Chief Minister V D Satheesan was reported to say that he did not agree with the views.
- Locations
- The Islamic event was in Kochi, and Baby addressed reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Quotes
M A Baby
CPI(M) general secretary who criticised Kanthapuram’s remarks
“The Constitution of India guarantees gender equality. Therefore, no interpretation in the name of any religion should fail to uphold constitutional values. Gender equality is a core constitutional principle, and no approach that questions this equality in the name of religion should be permitted.”
theprint.in
“Almost along similar lines, in a comparable manner, Kanthapuram—whom you referred to—has now presented the idea that there should be restrictions on women entering the public sphere.”
theprint.in
Sources
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