Reports untrue, minister Shylaja's husband didn't beat me, says Dalit woman

According to reports, the woman, who is also a DYFI leader in Mattannur, was slapped in the face by CPM municipality chairman Bhaskaran However, the woman has now pointed out that she only had an argument with Bhaskaran, and reports that she was slapped are not true CM Pinarayi Vijayan also dismissed the allegation as baseless, after opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala raised the media report in the Assembly

Denying reports that health minister KK Shylaja’s husband K Bhaskaran had slapped her, a Dalit woman from Mattannur has stated that the news being circulated by both the media and social media is false.

According to reports, the woman, who is also a DYFI leader, was slapped in the face by CPM municipality chairman Bhaskaran after a verbal spat at a poling booth during the Mattannur civic body polls on Tuesday.

However, the woman has now pointed out that she only had an argument with Bhaskaran, and reports that she was slapped are not true. She also said she would take action against the publications which carried the false news.

Civic polls: LDF posts big win in Mattannur, BJP second in 9 wards

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also dismissed the allegation as baseless, after opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala raised the media report in the Assembly on Friday.

The CM stressed that neither the police nor the CPM received any complaints about the incident. Pinarayi alleged that the allegation was only an attempt by the opposition to deviate public attention from the LDF’s massive victory in the Mattannur polls.

Playing down Pinarayi's assurances, the Opposition said that such complaints are probed by the police and not by the CPM. Congress leader and Thrikkakara MLA PT Thomas submitted that a case can be registered even without a complaint if a Dalit woman was assaulted.