Kerala Transport Minister C. P. John faces backlash after remarks that he made about women using the UDF government’s free bus travel scheme for ordinary-class KSRTC services. Multiple reports say his comments linked women’s use of the benefit to poverty in a manner that drew criticism, with opponents alleging the remarks implied that a substantial number of women were not genuinely eligible and were “pretending” to be poor to take advantage of the scheme.
Following the controversy, the minister apologises, according to the reports. He says he should have been more cautious and clarifies that his intent was to make a political point about the presence of poverty in Kerala, rather than to stigmatise or question the motives of women availing the service.
The incident escalates into a political dispute, with parties and commentators reacting to the language used by the minister and its implications for beneficiaries of the Priyadarshini scheme. The reports collectively indicate that the apology is aimed at addressing the criticism while the controversy continues to draw attention.
