Mammootty denies power centre allegations amid mollywood #metoo controversy
Thiruvananthapuram: Amid growing controversy in the Malayalam film industry over sexual assault allegations against prominent figures, veteran actor Mammootty has denied the existence of a "power centre" in Mollywood. This statement follows Mohanlal’s recent denial of involvement in any power groups within the industry.
In a Facebook post, the 72-year-old actor emphasised that cinema mirrors society, including its flaws, and urged the police to conduct an honest investigation. He also welcomed the recommendations of the Justice Hema Committee, formed in response to allegations of misconduct in the industry.
Mammootty's statement comes as the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlights the control of the Malayalam film industry by a small group of male producers, directors, and actors, has become public. The report, submitted in 2019 but released only recently, has led to the dissolution of the top panel of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which was led by Mohanlal.
Several actors and filmmakers, including Jayasurya, Sidhique, and Mukesh, are currently facing accusations of sexual harassment or assault, intensifying the scrutiny on the industry.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
