Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5 (IANS) Facing mounting criticism over his remarks on women availing the state government’s free bus travel scheme, State Transport Minister C.P. John on Wednesday expressed regret, saying he had no intention of hurting anyone and that his words should have been chosen more carefully.
“I never intended to make a blanket criticism of anyone. I should have been more careful while speaking. If my remarks have caused hurt to anyone, I express my regret,” the minister told reporters, while urging that the controversy be brought to a close.
The row erupted after John said that women were crowding into Priyadarshini buses while at the same time sending their children to private schools.
The remarks triggered widespread criticism from political parties, women’s organisations and social media, with many accusing the minister of being insensitive and stereotyping women.
Seeking to clarify his position, John said the Priyadarshini free travel scheme was a welfare measure aimed at helping economically weaker sections and should not be viewed as an act of charity.
“Free travel is not anybody’s generosity. It is a right. Kerala continues to have severe poverty, and the Priyadarshini scheme is meant to ease that burden,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that the scheme had become a financial burden on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), saying the corporation would deploy more buses on routes witnessing heavy demand.
He, however, acknowledged that the ageing KSRTC fleet remains a challenge.
John’s expression of regret comes barely a day after his remarks sparked a political storm, forcing the government into a defensive position.
Although he stopped short of offering an unconditional apology, the minister’s statement appeared aimed at defusing the controversy.
A veteran of Kerala politics, 69-year-old C.P. John began his public life as a fiery Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader. In 1986, he left the CPI(M) along with his mentor M.V. Raghavan after the latter’s expulsion from the party.
John later became one of Raghavan’s closest associates in the Communist Marxist Party (CMP), which aligned with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
Over the decades, he remained a prominent UDF leader before returning to office as a minister in the present government.
In his political career, he tasted victory for the first time in this election, after two previous attempts ended in his defeat.
All his former CPI(M) colleagues, starting from former CM Pinarayi Vijayan to the lower strata, condemned John for his remarks.
His latest remarks and the subsequent expression of regret have once again placed the outspoken minister at the centre of a political controversy.
–IANS
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