Elamaram Kareem ridicules deaf, dumb, retracts

KOZHIKODE: Just over a week after the 21st CPM party congress elected National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) representative, Mr V Muralidharan, as a permanent invitee to the party’s Central Committee, another new face on the CC, Mr Elamaram Kareem, invited the ire from different corners over his remarks on benefits given to the differently abled on Government buses.

Stung by the insensitive and unkind remarks, NPRD immediately asked Mr Kareem to withdraw his comments. Seeing all-round condemnation of his off-the-cuff though remarks, Mr Kareem regret for the comments he made.

While addressing the inaugural session of KSRT Employees Association march on Thursday in Kasargod, Mr Kareem, who is also the State general secretary of CITU, said that KSRTC suffered losses because the government never compensated  the Corporation for the revenue deficits incurred in freebies offered for the differently-abled and students by successive Transport Ministers.

“Every minister wants to declare one or the other freebie to make the scene worse. One minister for the blind, another for the deaf, and next one for lame,” said Mr Kareem at the meeting. Soon after the comments were made, strong protests came from in different corners, mainly social media against the remarks.

NDRP vice-chairman and Differently-Abled People Welfare Federation State general secretary Parasuvekkal Mohanan said comments were unacceptable and demanded Mr Kareem, a former Industry Minister, to withdraw it.

“I spoke with him and he explained to me that remarks were not intentional, but came in the course of addressing issues at KSRTC,” he added.

Mr Kareem told DC that the news had been distorted but he regretted hurting anyone. “I did not intend to insult anyone.  I want to highlight the plight of KSRTC and the remarks were made as a joke, teasing the government. I express regrets,” he said.