'Pembulai Orumai' stir enters fifth day

Munnar: The indefinite fast launched by 'Pembulai Orumai' here to protest against the alleged derogatory remarks made by Power Minister M M Mani against the women plantation workers in Munnar, entered its fifth day Saturday.

The agitating women plantation workers are demanding that Mani come to them to apologise and that he must resign as he has no moral right to continue in his post.

Gomathy, a leader of 'Pembulai Orumai sitting on fast along with Kausalya and Rajeshwari, said, "We are not going to call off our protest, unless he (Mani) comes and apologises before us. He has abused us in the most heinous words saying we are 'prostitutes'.

"We will remain here till he comes before us."

The police are likely to move the agitating activists to hospital soon as their health condition is deteriorating, according to the medical team that visited the women.

Meanwhile, the High Court on Friday termed as "serious" the allegation that Mani made "unsavoury" remarks against the workers at a recent public meeting at Kunchithanni in Idukki.

The observation was made by a vacation bench of justices P N Ravindran and P V Asha, while hearing a plea by one George Vattukulam, who has sought a court- monitored probe into the allegations that Mani made the "sexually-loaded, anti-women statements" at a public meeting.

Mani, on the other hand, is adamant that he would not go personally to say sorry to the protesting women in Munnar.

Mani had told reporters that he had apologised for his statement on Sunday itself.

"There is no question of me going to Munnar and apologising before the protesting women. Let them sit there as they have been placed there by vested interests," asserted Mani, who addressing a public meeting in Idukki last Saturday, said he knew what all went on during the strike by 'Pembulai Orumai'.