Congress Women Leaders Face Cyberattacks After Speaking Out Against Rahul Mankootathil

Thiruvananthapuram: With sexual assault allegations against Congress MLA Rahul Mankootathil continuing to mount, several Congress women leaders who spoke out against him are now facing widespread cyberattacks. The targeted abuse escalated after they questioned the party leadership for allegedly concealing Rahul’s behaviour despite earlier warnings.

M.A. Shahanas, General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) Cultural Society, recently stated that she had warned MP Shafi Parambil about Rahul’s conduct when he was being considered for the post of Youth Congress State President. “I had pointed out that women could be exploited, but Shafi Parambil responded with mockery and sarcasm,” Shahanas said. Her statement contradicts claims by Shafi and other senior Congress leaders that no prior complaints had been raised against Rahul.

Shahanas further disclosed that Rahul had behaved inappropriately towards her. After she returned from the farmers’ protest in Delhi, he sent her a message saying, “We could have gone to Delhi together.” She initially assumed the reference was to group travel with other Youth Congress leaders, but later realised that he was suggesting the trip with her alone. She said she rejected the message.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations and the evidence available, the Congress leadership took action not against Rahul but against Shahanas. She was removed from the KPCC Cultural Society’s WhatsApp group soon after making the disclosures. The move has raised questions about the role of Shafi Parambil and other senior leaders in shielding Rahul. Following her disclosure, widespread cyberattacks were launched against Shahanas by Congress workers supporting Rahul.

Other Congress women leaders who publicly demanded Rahul’s expulsion have also become targets of organised cyber abuse. Shama Mohammed and K.K. Rema have been subjected to misogynistic remarks, personal attacks, and coordinated online trolling. The attacks against their own party’s women leaders highlight the hostility faced by those who speak out in support of survivors.

Congress’ continued defence of a leader facing multiple sexual assault allegations, while women raising concerns are targeted and sidelined, has drawn sharp criticism and renewed scrutiny of the party’s internal approach to such complaints.