Kerala CM orders strict action over fake campaign targeting CPI(M)'s PK Sreemathy
Thiruvananthapuram, July 24
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has directed the state Home Department to take urgent and stringent action over the fake campaign targeting CPI Central Committee member and former Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy, after she submitted a formal complaint alleging a coordinated attempt to defame her through false social media and online reports.
Sreemathy gave a written complaint to the Chief Minister about the circulation of fabricated reports claiming that she had fraudulently drawn an MLA's family pension.
The Chief Minister immediately forwarded the complaint to state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, directing that appropriate legal action be initiated without delay.
The government's intervention came as crucial facts emerged exposing the allegation as a case of mistaken identity.
The pension in question was not received by the CPI(M) leader but by another P.K. Sreemathy, the late wife of freedom fighter and Congress leader P.R. Krishnan, a former MLA from the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin Assembly and later the Kunnamkulam constituency.
A retired teacher of A.K.M. Higher Secondary School, Poochatti, Thrissur, she had received the Assembly family pension following her husband's death in 1993.
She died in February 2020, after which the pension was discontinued.
Her son, Ajith (Printex Ajith), clarified that no one had received the pension during the past six years.
He said his father's name had been dragged into an unnecessary controversy and suggested that the CPI(M) leader had either been targeted because of the similarity in names or as part of a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The controversy stemmed from an RTI reply on pensions paid to former MLAs.
The document separately listed the family pension of "P.K. Sreemathy, wife of P.R. Krishnan," and the pension details of former MLA and ex-Minister P.K. Sreemathy of Kannur.
The two entries were allegedly distorted and projected as referring to the same individual, triggering the fake campaign.
Sreemathy, on Thursday, broke down before the media, explaining that she is being targeted for no fault of hers.
On Friday, Sreemathy said she would not forgive those responsible for spreading the false allegations and would initiate defamation proceedings against them.
"Many of those who carried the fake news have called me. Some even said they were prepared to fall at my feet and apologise," she said.
She also revealed that leaders from both Congress and the BJP had contacted her to express solidarity.
With the Chief Minister ordering immediate action and legal proceedings now on the cards, the controversy has shifted from a misinformation campaign to a case that could test the government's resolve against the spread of fake news.
— IANS
Reader Comments
What a mess. The RTI system is important for transparency, but people weaponizing it for character assassination is dangerous. Glad the CM stepped in quickly. Hope they trace the original source of this fake campaign and make an example of them.
Honestly, both sides need to take responsibility. The ones who circulated fake news without checking are obviously wrong. But also, why did it take the CM's intervention for action? The police should be proactive in such cases. Social media is becoming a battleground for reputation destruction, and the law needs to catch up fast.
It's sad that a respected former minister had to go through this trauma. The fact that even Congress and BJP leaders called her shows how bipartisan this issue is. We need better digital literacy in India to avoid such witch-hunts. 🤦♀️
The RTI document was probably misinterpreted by someone with an agenda. But let's be fair: if it was a mistaken identity, the family of the real P.K. Sreemathy also suffered. Ajith's statement is mature - he didn't want his father dragged into this. The CM should also send a notice to the RTI applicant if they distorted the information knowingly.
While I condemn the fake campaign, I find it ironic that the same government machinery that acts swiftly for a senior CPI(M) leader often drags its feet on issues affecting common citizens. The CM should ensure that this zero-tolerance approach applies equally to all cases of fake news, not just when it involves powerful people.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.