Wear a sari to understand women's plight: Gowri Amma to CM
- The incidents of violence against women in Kerala are increasing daily
- Other than expressing condolences and promising strict action nothing is being done by the government
- So veteran leader K R Gowri Amma suggested the Pinarayi Vijayan that if he wanted to understand the plight of women, he should "wear a sari and
walk around".
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Veteran Kerala Communist leader K R Gowri Amma  had a word of advice for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government on women safety.
The 98-year-old leader, who is known for not mincing her words, suggested the chief minister that if he wanted to understand the plight of women, he should "wear a sari and walk around".Â
Gowri Amma was addressing a function organised to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations of the state legislative assembly. The chief minister and former members of the Assembly were also present in the function.
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 "I have walked home alone even at 10 pm as a legislator. Today, the situation has changed," the fiery leader said. "The problems being faced by women will be known while
you are on the road," she said.
Gowri Amma was a member of the first Communist government in Kerala headed by E M S Namboodiripad in 1957. She was also a minister in the Communist governments of 1967, 1980 and 1987. After she was expelled for anti-party activities from CPI(M) in 1994, Gowri Amma floated the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS), which became an ally of the Congress-led UDF. She was part of the Congress governments from 2001-2006.
Gowri Amma and E Chandrasekharan (CPI) were honoured at the function on Wednesday. The latter could not make it to the event owing to ill-health.
Several former and present legislators, including Congress leaders Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala and R Balakrishna Pillai, were also present and occupied the seats once allotted to them at the old assembly complex in the Secretariat.Â
