{
  "id": 4653811,
  "title": "Muraleedharan criticises UDF leaders for ‘silence’ over Kanthapuram’s remarks on women",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/muraleedharan-criticises-udf-leaders-for-silence-over-kanthapurams",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T14:26:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/muraleedharan-criticises-udf-leaders-for-silence-over-kanthapurams-remarks-on-women/article71410835.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bharatiya Janata Party leader V. Muraleedharan has criticized United Democratic Front (UDF) officials for their inaction regarding Samastha leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar's controversial statements about women. In a Facebook post, Mr. Muraleedharan accused several UDF Ministers, including K.M. Shaji and N. Samsuddeen, of supporting Mr. Aboobacker's position through their silence. He also accused Cultural Affairs Minister P.C. Vishnunadh of avoiding the issue and refusing to take a clear stance on Aboobacker's remarks. The BJP leader's comments come amid a political controversy sparked by the cleric's recent remarks, which questioned the involvement of women in public life and suggested that their presence could lead to negative consequences. Mr. Muraleedharan questioned why the Congress leadership has not demanded an apology from Mr. Aboobacker and challenged Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala to take legal action against the cleric for his \"anti-women\" stance. The BJP leader also criticized the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for its earlier support of women's rights in Sabarimala, yet its silence on Mr. Aboobacker's statement.",
  "summary": "In a Facebook post, Muraleedharan accused UDF Ministers K.M. Shaji and N. Samsuddeen of tacitly endorsing Aboobacker’s views through their silence and challenged the party’s leadership to demand an apology from the cleric",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Sunni youth leader defends Kanthapuram’s directive on women at religious events",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/sunni-youth-leader-defends-kanthapurams-directive-on-women-at",
        "published": "2026-08-31T10:04:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}