Thiruvanhapuram: Kerala cadre IAS officer and Managing Director of Vizhinjam Port, Divya S. Iyer, has found herself in the midst of controversy after praising CPM leader K.K. Ragesh.
Ragesh recently took over as the Kannur district secretary of CPM the other day, after being relieved of his position as the Chief Minister’s private secretary.
In a Facebook post, Iyer expressed her admiration for Ragesh, stating, “Even Karna would feel envious of this K.K. Ragesh shield. I have closely observed his official life over the past three years and witnessed countless admirable qualities in him. A textbook of loyalty. An inkwell of hard work.”
She added, “Thank you for considering us with utmost respect, an art that is becoming endangered in power corridors across the globe.”
Her praise for the CPM leader prompted criticism from some members of the Congress and Youth Congress in Kerala. Iyer’s husband, K.S. Sabarinadhan, a Congress leader and former MLA, acknowledged that while her compliments for Ragesh may have been well-intentioned, they were inappropriate. He noted that while there is nothing wrong with officials appreciating the government and its policies, congratulating someone who has received a political appointment is a different matter.
Senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan commented that there is a faction of civil service officers in Kerala who frequently praise ruling party leaders, suggesting that Iyer is part of that group.
Some Congress supporters launched a cyber attack on Iyer for her comments.
Responding to questions on cyberattack against Iyer at a press conference, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the officer was being unnecessarily targeted by some individuals.
He noted that those criticizing are finding it difficult accept praise coming from someone whose husband is a Congress leader.
Vijayan emphasized that Iyer is an official who has expressed her views openly, and these should be considered her personal opinions based on her experiences.
CPM leaders K.K. Shailaja and E.P. Jayarajan defended Iyer, stating that there was nothing wrong with an officer praising the good work of those associated with the government. Shailaja called for strong action against those putting defamatory posts about Iyer.
Iyer also addressed the criticisms on social media, expressing her surprise at the harsh backlash. She clarified that her intention was simply to acknowledge the good work of an individual.
