The Congress party in Kerala expelled senior leader Simi Rosebell John on Sunday after she accused the party of having a "casting couch" similar to those in the film industry.
According to a statement from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, Rosebell was expelled for insulting female leaders in the media. The statement also accused her of attempting to mentally harass and defame countless women leaders and workers within the party in coordination with political rivals.
In response to her expulsion, Rosebell criticized the party, claiming that women of dignity and pride cannot thrive within it. She called for any evidence supporting her allegations to be made public.
On Saturday, Rosebell, representing Ernakulam, alleged that women in the party are subjected to exploitation to advance their careers. She also accused several Congress leaders, including opposition leader VD Satheesan, of sexual harassment, suggesting that women often have to impress male leaders to gain significant positions, bypassing merit and experience.
VD Satheesan dismissed these claims as false, stating that he and the party had supported Rosebell, who had held positions within the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
KPCC President K Sudhakaran announced that the Mahila Congress had filed a complaint against Rosebell and promised a thorough investigation into the allegations.
"The Mahila Congress has submitted a complaint against Simi Rosebell John. Her claims are unfounded, and the KPCC will look into the complaint filed by the Mahila Congress," Sudhakaran said.
This controversy comes amid similar allegations in the Kerala film industry. Recently, a partial release of the Hema Committee report exposed disturbing accounts of sexual assault and intimidation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Since the report's release, more women have come forward with their own experiences.
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