Thiruvananthapuram: Mullapally, Balram argue over Facebook etiquette

Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran on Sunday chided party MLA V.T. Balram over his Facebook remarks in reply to a Facebook post by writer K.R. Meera, saying he should not descend to using indecent language in social media and should always respect women.

Speaking to mediapersons in Kochi, Mullappally also said that he is not against a leader keeping a strong following in social media but should always make it a point to respect others especially women. Mullappally, referring to Balram’s earlier remarks on CPM leader late A.K. Gopalan, said that one should not forget the contributions of AKG as a freedom fighter.

When asked about Balram’s repeated answering to criticism on him through social media, Mullappally made it clear that he had nothing against Balram’s political functioning and he was only cautioning him about the alertness he need to keep while writing in social media.

Meanwhile, Thrithala Congress MLA V.T. Balram has retaliated to KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran criticising him for engaging in a virtual war of words with writer K. R. Meera in the social media. In a Facebook post, the young MLA said the comments he made were in his own convenience.

“I had put the comments in an individual capacity at my own convenience. My top priority as a peoples’ representative, as a social activist, as a Congress leader is to fulfil the responsibilities of the people. I have responded at my own convenience amid my other commitments”, said Balram in his Facebook post.

It should be recalled that scores of Balram followers had showed their ire against Mullapally.