P M A Salam under fire for sexist remark against Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday condemned Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P M A Salam’s controversial remarks against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling them “despicable” and “an insult to Kerala’s cultural values.”

The minister urged the IUML leadership to direct Salam to apologise for his statement, which he said reflected a lack of political ethics. “His remarks are extremely despicable and an insult to the cultural values of Kerala. Such inhumane and undemocratic comments should never come from a leader holding a senior position in a political organisation,” Sivankutty told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Salam’s comments came in response to the state government’s decision to sign the Centre’s PM SHRI scheme, an MoU that has since been frozen. Criticising the tone of Salam’s statement, Sivankutty said, “Even while raising an issue, one must maintain decency in language, a basic sense that Salam seems to have lost. The League leadership should therefore ask him to tender an apology.”

The CPI M leader said such personal attacks are a sign of “political frustration and despair” at the progress made by the Kerala government in strengthening the public education system and upholding its secular credentials. “Even while utilising central funds, Kerala’s public education model has remained uncompromised. Personally insulting the Chief Minister to spark controversy is a cheap political tactic,” Sivankutty added.

The minister asserted that the people of Kerala would reject Salam’s remarks with the contempt they deserve.

Following public backlash, the IUML clarified that Salam’s words reflected his personal opinion and not the party’s position. Party leader Sayyid Ali Shihab Thangal stated that personal attacks have no place in political discourse and do not align with the League’s principles.