Friends went through this too: Malayalam author on why she exposed Congress MLA
'This is a difficult situation as many women are hesitant to speak about it. The reason is these people tell different stories to others. Our people stand with us only till we speak about it. Many women are scared because of this,' Honey said.She added that she knew of other women who had been victims but could not reveal names because of legal limitations. 'I know about the trauma they are going through. That's why I decided to speak,' she said.Earlier, Malayalam actor and former journalist Rini Ann George alleged that a 'youth leader' from a 'major political party' had repeatedly sent her offensive messages and even invited her to a hotel.Mamkootathil then resigned from the post, but said he was stepping down not because he had done anything wrong, but to ensure the party could focus on its work.- EndsIN THIS STORY#Kerala
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Sisodia row to land pooling, Delhi AAP's play leaves Punjab AAP in choppy waters
In the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections in February this year, its Delhi-based central leadership — including AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia — appears to have turned all its attention to Punjab, currently the lone party-ruled state. The AAP leadership's pivot has been attributed to its bid to consolidate the party in Punjab in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly polls. However, this strategy seems to have backfired, with the AAP's Punjab unit reeling from various rows allegedly caused by its Delhi leadership's 'back-seat driving' in organisational and governance matters. While having been in the line of the Opposition's fire for being 'remote-controlled' by the Delhi AAP brass, the Punjab party unit has also seen growing unease among a section of its leaders and ministers over the perceived 'power shift'. Some Punjab AAP insiders claimed that they have even deliberated on the 'long-term political consequences of the Delhi party leaders's move to camp in the state on a sustained basis'. Senior AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who had been been out on bail in the excise policy case since August 2024, has been spending a lot of time in Punjab as the party's state in-charge, advising the party dispensation led by CM Bhagwant Mann on political and policy matters. Another ex-Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, the AAP's Punjab co-incharge, who spent about one-and-a-half years in jail on corruption charges before being released on bail in October 2024, has also been camping in Punjab for months, often holding meetings with party leaders, ministers and bureaucrats on various issues. Both Sisodia and Jain have been staying in Punjab government houses in Chandigarh. Even ex-Delhi CM Kejriwal has been visiting Punjab frequently, attending a few events every month. During these visits, he is given accommodation in 'Vikas Bhavan', the rural development department's guest house in Mohali. A major instance of the alleged 'overreach' of the Delhi AAP leaders was seen in the now-scrapped land pooling policy of the Mann government, party sources said. The policy, under which over 40,000 acres of land was to be acquired for developing urban infrastructure projects and townships across Punjab, was said to be 'pushed' by Sisodia and Jain, sources said, adding that CM Mann had his 'reservations' about it before its announcement on May 14. The policy triggered an immediate backlash, especially from a large section of farmers and landowners, who saw it as an alleged attempt to 'grab land in the garb of planned development'. The AAP leadership initially tried its best to make the policy work. It was amended on June 4 and July 25 to make it more lucrative for the landowners. On July 20, Jain held a meeting in Chandigarh of the AAP MLAs from belts where lands were identified for pooling and subsequent development, asking them to ramp up public outreach to address their concerns and 'change the narrative', sources said. The meeting was also attended by state AAP president Aman Arora, housing minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, and another minister Sanjeev Arora. 'Many MLAs tried to reach out to protesters but faced resistance. Then, others did not make attempts. The larger opinion within the party was also against this policy,' sources said. On August 8, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the land pooling policy till September 10, flagging multiple legal and procedural flaws — from the absence of environmental and social impact assessments to the lack of timelines, grievance redressal and budgetary clarity. On August 11, the Mann government finally buckled under pressure and withdrew the policy. Amid the policy controversy, CM Mann and Kejriwal faced poor attendance at a government event held in Punjab's Sunam on July 31 to pay tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh on his 86th martyrdom day. Sisodia also landed the Punjab AAP in a spot on August 13, when he told a meeting of the party's women wing in Mohali that '2027 ka chunaav jitvaane ke liye, saam, daam, dand, bhed, sach, jhooth, question, answer, laraai, jhagda jo karna padega karenge… taiyyar hain josh ke saath? (To win the 2027 elections, we will do whatever it takes — saam, daam, dand, bhed, truth, lies, question, answer, fights… Are you ready?). While Mann was present at the event, Kejriwal joined it through video link. Sisodia's remarks triggered fireworks from the Opposition, including the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which demanded criminal proceedings against him besides seeking the Election Commission (EC)'s action against the AAP. This led to the Punjab AAP distancing itself from Sisodia's comment, with Aman Arora calling it his 'personal opinion' and iterating the party's commitment to 'clean, transparent politics'. Former Punjab AAP spokesman Iqbal Singh, who quit the party to join the new SAD faction led by Harpreet Singh, flagged the Delhi AAP leadership's 'excessive interference', saying 'The message from people is very clear: Delhi, step back.' Speaking to The Indian Express, Iqbal alleged, 'I spoke for the Punjab AAP as its spokesperson for 10 years. We wanted badlaav in the state. The AAP leadership claimed they would empower the people, but grabbed power for themselves. After Delhi defeat, they tightened grip on Punjab unit, giving some significant government posts to leaders from Delhi. We just wanted an honest government for the state which had been looted by other parties. But, when this dream was shattered, I quit the AAP.' Several AAP insiders noted that despite being in power in Punjab with an overwhelming majority since March 2022, the Mann government has been widely seen to be playing 'second fiddle' to the Delhi party brass. They pointed out that the Opposition has always raked up this issue to corner the party in Punjab. 'Although the AAP is the main Opposition in Delhi, it seems to be missing in action there. Our leadership should work on regaining ground in Delhi and let Punjab unit handle its affairs,' said an AAP leader. When asked for comment on the issue, Punjab AAP spokesman Neel Garg told The Indian Express: 'There is no interference of anyone in the Punjab government affairs. If anybody is saying that, it is baseless. The government is being run under the leadership of the state's elected Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. As far as the AAP organisation is concerned, we are a national party. Whenever a party has to contest an election, a strategy has to be formed. All senior leaders' experiences are required to go to an election. Any other talk about their interference in the government is baseless.'
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil quits as Youth Cong chief
Kochi: Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil resigned as the president of the state Youth Congress unit on Thursday following allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour towards an actress. Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil resigned as the president of the state Youth Congress unit on Thursday. (FACEBOOK.) Mamkootathil, the legislator from Palakkad who was elected last year through a bye-election, dismissed all allegations against him and said in a press conference at his residence in Adoor that he was stepping down to protect his party and save the time of party workers who may have to justify him. Actress Rini Ann George on Wednesday accused a 'young prominent politician' of a well-known party of sending her obscene messages and inviting her to a hotel room, after which BJP and CPI(M) affiliated youth organisation DYFI were protesting against Mamkootathil and demanding his resignation as MLA. George told reporters on Wednesday that she did not intend to name the politician or file a police complaint against him. When reporters asked if it was Mamkootathil, she said 'no comments'. She claimed she did not 'expect justice' through legal means and wanted the accused to reform himself as well as warn other women about him. The 35-year-old MLA began the press conference by saying that he had spoken to the opposition leader, as well as KPCC and AICC leaders, on Thursday morning. 'They did not demand my resignation. The actress is my friend, and I don't believe the person she mentioned was me. She is my good friend and will remain so. I believe that I have not done anything against the law or the Constitution of the country until now,' he said. He added, 'I am resigning from the post not because there is any truth in the allegations. I reject all the allegations against me. I am resigning because at a time when Congress workers have to mount a resistance against the deeply unpopular LDF government, they should not have to waste time justifying me or trying to prove my innocence. The responsibility of proving my innocence is on me.' He maintained that he would not resign as MLA. In Trivandrum, leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, who once called Mamkootathil his younger brother, said on Thursday that the party would take strong action against those facing such serious allegations. He indirectly confirmed that there were allegations against Mamkootathil.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Sexually Frustrated, Wanted To Rape Me': Trans Woman's Charges Against Congress MLA In Kerala
Last Updated: The trans woman's allegations came against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil shortly after Malayalam actor Rini Ann George accused him of sending her offensive messages. After harassment allegations by Malayalam actor Rini Ann George, a trans woman has levelled serious charges against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, claiming that he told her he 'wanted to rape" her. She claimed that he told her that he wanted to 'do it" in Bengaluru or Hyderabad. This comes a day after Rini George accused him of sending her offensive messages on multiple occasions, claiming that he had invited her to a hotel. She had also warned him of informing his party; however, he allegedly continued his behaviour. On Thursday, Mamkootathil resigned as the president of the Youth Congress's Kerala unit; however, he denied any wrongdoing on his part. Fresh Charges Against Congress MLA A trans woman, identified as Avanthika, claimed that he had messaged her that he wanted to rape her. Serious RAPE allegations, Against whom?Kerala Youth Congress President and Congress MLA. Rahul Mamkootathil. Not a word on this by INC yet. He tried to RAPE a TRANSGENDER shameful this act is — Curly Jeevi (@curlykrazy07) August 21, 2025 'I think he is sexually frustrated because he said he wants to rape me. He said we can go to Bengaluru or Hyderabad and do it," she claimed. Avanthika claimed that they had met in a debate during the elections, after which he reached out to her on social media. 'It started as a normal friendship, but he later made it a disgusting experience," she said. More to follow… view comments First Published: August 22, 2025, 07:18 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
