‘A woman became a widow. That is her fate. We are not responsible for that,’ said Mani in the Assembly. Following this, the opposition demanded his apology and the Speaker said that the comments will be inspected.

‘Here a woman spoke against the CM and the left democratic front government. We are not responsible for her state. Former minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan troubled a lot of people over this matter. He is the most disgusting Home Minister Kerala has ever had,’ he said.

Mani was referring to the murder of Rema’s husband TP Chandrasekharan. CPM workers were convicted in the case.

The Assembly session had to be stopped midway after the opposition protested following Mani’s remarks. Opposition leader VD Satheesan said that Mani must withdraw his statements and issue an apology to KK Rema and that no compromise will be made in the matter.

VD Satheesan said that Mani’s comments are intolerable and painful. It is surprising that the CM did not ask Mani to retrieve his statements after all this protest, he said.

‘When MM Mani took the stern stand not to withdraw his statements, the CM supported him. The Speaker was not even willing to remove these statements from the records. The remarks were the result of a conspiracy of the CM and CPM,’ he added.