Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Kerala Minister C.P. John Expresses Regret Over Remarks on Women
In Kerala, a state in India, women and girls can ride government buses for free.
This is called the Priyadarshini scheme.
A minister named C.P. John gave a speech about these free buses.
He said women rush to free buses but still pay for private schools for their children.
Many people felt his words were unfair and unkind to women.
At first, Mr. John said he only wanted to talk about poverty.
Then he said sorry for his words and promised the free buses would stay.
He explained that free bus rides are a right for women, not a gift from the government.
Everyone agreed that leaders should choose their words carefully.
Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John sparked a controversy with remarks at the Kerala Bus Transport Association's state conference in Palakkad about women using free Priyadarshini buses while enrolling children in private schools.
He first defended the comments on Tuesday as highlighting women's poverty, then expressed regret on Wednesday, August 5, saying he had no intention of hurting or insulting anyone.
John said the Priyadarshini scheme will continue as a flagship UDF programme, calling free travel a women's right and not an act of charity.
CPI(M) leaders and former ministers, including Pinarayi Vijayan, K.N. Balagopal, P. Rajeev and K.B. Ganesh Kumar, condemned the remarks as insulting and stereotyping women.
The scheme lifted daily women passengers on KSRTC from 5.5 lakh to 12.7 lakh, or 66 per cent of ridership, with monthly cost estimated at Rs 60 crore and annual revenue loss of Rs 710-720 crore.
- Who
- Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John, a UDF minister, made the remarks; critics included CPI(M) leaders Pinarayi Vijayan, K.N. Balagopal, P. Rajeev and former minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
- What
- A political controversy over John's remarks about women using the free Priyadarshini bus scheme while sending children to private schools, followed by his expression of regret.
- When
- John defended the remarks on Tuesday and expressed regret on Wednesday, August 5.
- Where
- The Kerala Bus Transport Association's state conference in Palakkad, Kerala; John spoke to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- John said he was highlighting the poverty of women in Kerala; critics said his remarks were insensitive and stereotyped women.
Critics and Opposition
Minister C.P. John and Government
Remarks on women's choices
Critics and Opposition
Critics said the minister insulted and stereotyped women by accusing those using free buses of paying for private schools, with K.B. Ganesh Kumar calling the remarks 'an insult.'
Minister C.P. John and Government
John said he was highlighting the severe poverty of women who cannot afford even basic travel, that he never said people were pretending to be poor, and that his words were taken out of context.
Financial burden of the Priyadarshini scheme
Critics and Opposition
Estimates cited in reports say the scheme costs KSRTC around Rs 60 crore per month with an annual revenue loss of Rs 710-720 crore, and John himself acknowledged the ageing KSRTC fleet is a challenge.
Minister C.P. John and Government
John said the scheme is not a burden as it is a government scheme, that Rs 40 crore was given to KSRTC for 15 days in June, and that more buses will be deployed on routes with heavy demand.
Future of the scheme
Critics and Opposition
CPI(M) leader P. Rajeev alleged the remarks were part of 'a deliberate plan to end the Priyadarshini scheme.'
Minister C.P. John and Government
John said the scheme will not be stopped, calling it the 'government's baby,' one of its biggest commitments, and a prestigious flagship programme of the UDF government.
- Minister
- C.P. John, Kerala Transport Minister
- Scheme
- Priyadarshini free bus travel scheme for women on KSRTC ordinary services
- Policy origin
- One of the Indira guarantees announced by the UDF during the Kerala assembly polls
- Ridership impact
- Daily women passengers rose from 5.5 lakh to 12.7 lakh; women are 66% of KSRTC ridership
- Estimated cost
- About Rs 60 crore per month; annual revenue loss estimated at Rs 710-720 crore
- Payment to KSRTC
- Rs 40 crore provided for 15 days in June
- Minister's background
- 69-year-old former SFI leader who left CPI(M) in 1986 with mentor M.V. Raghavan; won his first Assembly election this year
- Remarks venue
- Kerala Bus Transport Association state conference, Palakkad
Sources
After backlash, Kerala Minister CP John expresses regret over remarks on women
Kerala Minister John Expresses Regret Over Remark on Women's Transport
'I stand by my remarks', Minister defends Priyadarshini free bus travel scheme comments amid row
Minister C P John’s Remarks on Free Bus Travel for Women Spark Controversy
