Kerala: Suicide of 26-year-old sparks political row after IG post alleges sexual abuse at RSS camps
Thiruvananthapuram: The death of a 26-year-old man from Kottayam has triggered a major political controversy in Kerala after a scheduled Instagram post surfaced, in which the deceased accused Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists of sexually abusing him during his childhood.
The deceased, identified as Anandhu Aji, a resident of Vanchimala in Elikulam grama panchayat, Kottayam, was found hanging in a room at Sangeetha Tourist Home, near the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, on Thursday, October 9. His body was cremated at his residence on Friday night.
The controversy erupted hours after Anandhu’s death when a detailed statement appeared on his Instagram account, which police said was pre-scheduled to go public after his death.
According to the Thampanoor Police, who registered a case of unnatural death, the post was drafted on September 8 and later edited on September 23, October 3, and October 4. The police confirmed that the message was scheduled for publication after his death.
In the post, which Anandhu described as his “dying declaration,” he alleged that he was sexually abused first by a person known to his family and later by individuals at RSS-run camps.
“I am having no ill-feelings towards anyone except for one person and one organisation. That organisation is RSS. I am experiencing a threat to my life caused by this organisation and that person,” the post read.
He stated that he had been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks and decided to end his life due to prolonged mental health struggles.
In his post, Anandhu named a man, referred to as “NM,” who lived near his old home, as the first person to have sexually abused him when he was between three and four years old.
He further claimed that he was later abused at RSS camps, writing “At the RSS camp also I was sexually abused. Never make any friends with anyone who is part of RSS. RSS is the one who walks with such poison. The real abusers.”
He added that the abuse occurred during ITC and OTC training camps, stating that “many were abused” and that such incidents were widespread in the organisation’s camps. “Many may not believe me because I have no proof,” he wrote.
Anandhu also mentioned feeling socially isolated, saying that several people who once interacted with him had distanced themselves in recent months.
Following the emergence of the post, the CPI(M) and its youth wing, DYFI, demanded a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
DYFI state secretary V.K. Sanoj said Anandhu’s statement “exposed the inhuman face of the RSS” and urged that those responsible be held accountable.
“Anandhu wrote before ending his life that the RSS is putting forward ideas and actions that should be kept away from. We must be vigilant so that our children do not end up in shakhas that teach hatred and inhumanity. The RSS criminals who killed Anandhu should be brought to justice,” Sanoj said in a statement.
The Ponkunnam Police, under whose jurisdiction Elikulam falls, said they were aware of the allegations but were “not jumping to conclusions.” They confirmed that Anandhu had been undergoing treatment for mental health issues.
According to Thampanoor Police, Anandhu’s whereabouts were traced following a missing complaint filed at the Museum Police Station. His mobile phone signal led investigators to the Sangeetha Tourist Home, where he was found dead.
Police officials said the incidents mentioned in Anandhu’s post appeared to relate to his native place, and the local police would examine the claims.
Local representatives in Anandhu’s hometown said they were unaware of any such allegations before the social media post surfaced.
Vanchimala ward member Suryamol said she learned about the accusations only after the post became public.
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Constitution amendment bill defeat was BJP’s first embarrassment in Parliament: Margaret Alva
Bengaluru (PTI): Senior Congress leader Margaret Alva on Monday said that the constitution amendment bill's defeat in the Lok Sabha on April 17 was the first embarrassment faced by the BJP-led government in Parliament.
She also alleged that the BJP has no real concern regarding women’s reservation.
The opposition INDIA bloc defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill that sought to facilitate the implementation of women's reservation by expanding the strength of the Lok Sabha, apart from making changes to delimitation.
"This is the first embarrassment and defeat faced by the NDA government in the Lok Sabha," the former Governor of Gujarat and Rajasthan said in a press conference here.
According to her, the women’s reservation has been under discussion since the time of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"During Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, a 14-member committee was formed, and I was appointed as its chairperson. We prepared a report after studying what needed to be done to enhance the dignity of women across 12 sectors. This was submitted to the government in 1989,” Alva, 84-year-old veteran Congress leader, said.
She said political empowerment for women was emphasised in that report, without which, empowerment in any other sphere is not possible.
“Many people in Parliament used to question me — should we vacate seats for women and stay at home cooking? Why insist on this? Has anyone written these seats in your name? This debate has been ongoing since 1975,” Alva explained.
The Congress leader said Rajiv Gandhi had introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.
“At that time, all opposition parties united and defeated the Bill,” she pointed out.
Again, during the tenure of former Prime Minister late P V Narasimha Rao, the 33 per cent reservation Bill in local bodies was passed.
“It was the Congress party that first introduced women’s reservation. Now they are falsely accusing us of being anti-women,” Alva charged.
In 2023, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed with much fanfare, but it was not immediately implemented.
According to her, a condition was imposed for its implementation that it would be enforced based on census data.
"Once it is in the statute book, what is preventing its implementation? Two years for the census and another two years for delimitation — this means it cannot be implemented by 2029. It was not given in 2024, and there is no possibility even in 2029," Alva charged the BJP-led government at the Centre.
The Congress leader said the BJP is saying that the Bill can be implemented based on the 2011 Census, but when the same suggestion was made in 2023, the BJP rejected it.
On increasing the Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent, she sought to know the basis for it.
“Where did this (idea) come from? Whose advice was taken? Was it decided by the RSS? Or ordered by a court?” Alva asked.
The former union minister said the Constitution amendment bill, which was defeated on April 17 appears to favour certain North Indian states.
“We pay taxes, but they receive greater benefits and allocations. If seats are increased by 50 per cent based on their calculations, we would get only 14 additional seats, while they would get 40. How is this fair?” she questioned.
While 298 members voted in support of the bill in Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-third majority.
According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to "operationalise" the women's reservation act before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats were also to be increased in state and Union territory Assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
