Congress Leader Vibitha Babu Criticizes Complainant in Sexual Harassment Case
Kottayam: Adv. Vibitha Babu, State Secretary of Mahila Congress, has strongly criticized the stance of the complainant in the sexual harassment case against Rahul Mankootathil. Vibitha accused the complainant of attempting to gain media attention, conveying her criticism through a detailed Facebook post.
In her social media statement, Vibitha Babu asserted that it is an injustice to genuine victims when individuals attempt to portray themselves as innocent solely for media attention, especially after implied prior engagement. This statement comes amidst ongoing discussions surrounding the allegations.
Vibitha Babu notably questioned the actions of the Mahila Congress worker who filed the complaint. She raised pertinent questions, asking why the alleged harasser was not blocked if they were continuously sending disturbing messages. Furthermore, she questioned why a formal complaint was not lodged with the party mechanisms or legal authorities if messages persisted even after a clear refusal. Babu emphasized that such actions trivialize the struggles of actual assault victims and called for an end to efforts solely aimed at garnering media attention.
Adv. Vibitha Babu herself gained considerable public attention during the 2020 local elections. Contesting from the Mallappally division in Pathanamthitta under the UDF banner, her election posters and images featuring her in traditional attire had gone viral at the time.
In her comprehensive Facebook post titled ‘With Justice, With Truth: Some Questions,’ Vibitha Babu welcomed the strong action, including expulsion, taken by the Congress leadership in response to the allegations against Rahul Mankootathil. She underscored that this demonstrates the party’s commitment to ensuring justice.
Expressing unwavering solidarity with all victims of sexual assault and exploitation, Vibitha Babu acknowledged the profound pain experienced by survivors. However, she also highlighted her concerns regarding certain recent discussions and “personal commotions” surrounding the issue.
Babu reiterated her pointed questions: “If someone continuously sent harassing messages, why wasn’t the block button used? If messages were sent even after clearly saying ‘no’, why wasn’t a complaint filed with the party mechanism or legally with the police?” She firmly stated that “it is an injustice to real victims when someone tries to portray themselves as innocent just for media attention, after providing ‘food to the chickens’.”
Concluding her post, Vibitha Babu urged those who champion justice not to lower themselves to the level of those seeking mere public spectacle. She stressed the importance of honest criticism and struggles driven by a genuine pursuit of justice, vowing to “fight against and defeat tendencies that allow the credibility of real victims to be questioned.”