‘Psychopaths like Rahul Mankootathil should be expelled’: Youth Congress Woman Leader Demands Action

Thiruvananthapuram: Youth Congress State General Secretary Sajana B Sajan has vehemently demanded the immediate expulsion of Rahul Mankootathil from the primary membership of the Congress party, asserting that such “psychopaths” must be cast aside. In a strong statement posted on Facebook, Sajan emphasized that this is not the time for Congress workers to be put in a position where they have to defend themselves against derogatory terms like “neramban” (lecherous person), often used by CPM cyber activists. She issued a stern warning, stating that if the party fails to learn from its past mistakes, it risks its very existence.

Sajan’s post elaborated on her concerns, urging the party to act decisively. “The party must immediately expel Rahul Mankootathil from its primary membership and cast him aside. The issue is not Rahul Mankootathil himself, but his mental state,” she wrote. She reiterated that Congress workers should not be forced to defend against public slurs, implying a deeper problem within the party’s handling of such matters. “If the party continues to not learn despite repeated lessons, there will be no party left to learn,” she added, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Furthermore, Sajan called for a thorough understanding of the facts before extending any protection to Mankootathil, regardless of his connections to high-ranking leaders. She questioned the apparent haste to declare him innocent. “The leadership must understand that ‘the dignity of girls also has value’. Justice is for the victims, not for the perpetrators,” she stressed. She criticized the argument that victims have not filed formal complaints, despite widespread knowledge of alleged abortions and harassment through media and other sources. “Despite the leadership and everyone else being aware of abortions and harassment through media and other sources, stating that the victims did not file a complaint is a challenge to their self-respect. What can the party do if they do file a complaint…?” she questioned, implying a lack of faith in the internal complaint mechanisms.

Sajan also acknowledged Mankootathil’s past position as her state president but clarified the circumstances of his departure from the Youth Congress national leadership. “It is true that he was my state president. The Youth Congress national leadership took exemplary action. It was not a resignation; it was a forced resignation,” she revealed, choosing to withhold further details out of “decency.” She warned of the potential for more individuals like “Ramesh Pisharadys and Rahul Eswars” to emerge, indicating a systemic issue.

Emphasizing the significant contributions of women in the party, Sajan differentiated them from individuals who might seek monetary gain. “There is a women’s faction. Women party workers are not like Tanvi and Anushree, who go as guests to events for money,” she stated. She highlighted the hardships faced by many dedicated women members: “We are all here with some difficulty. There are also impoverished people in this party who face police lathi-charges, imprisonment, and protests, and who do not have PR systems to create reels and post them.” Concluding her impassioned plea, Sajan asserted, “For people like us, who do not mortgage our self-respect, the party must expel such psychopaths.”