Bhagyalakshmi walks out of Kairali TV show

Kozhikode: Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, who had been hosting the talk show ‘Selfie’ on Kairali channel for the last one-and-a-half years, has quit it over various issues connected with the  alleged gang rape incident at Wadakkanchery. “It’s my decision to walk out of the show ‘Selfie’ though I had a family-like bond with the channel,” Bhagyalakshmi told DC.

However, Kairali Managing Director John Brittas told DC that he did not know about the issue and that ‘Selfie’ was still on air.  

Bhagyalakshmi had exposed the  alleged gang rape  through her Facebook post and also arranged   a press conference in which the victim spoke of the culprits. They included  CPM leader and Wadakkan-chery municipal councillor P.N. Jayanthan.  Post the revelation, a host of comments on her FB wall purportedly by the CPM supporters  made her angry. “These are the so-called supporters who lack the communist culture. I also know that the supporters in Wadakkk-anchery, Thrissur,  are pushing for my exit from the CPM-supported channel,” she said.

She also had a harrowing experience last month. “I was staying at a star hotel in Thrissur and Wadakkancherry MLA, Anil Akkara,  called on me as per his request. The next day the CPM mouthpiece carried a report about  me having a conspiracy with the Congress MLA behind  closed doors,” she said.

Calling herself  a Communist, the writer-turned activist said that no CPM top leader  or minister had shown a cold face to her after the incident. “But T.N. Seema, for whom I had campaigned in Vattiyoorkavu, did not have the courtesy to call me and ask for the details,” she rued.

According to her, the CPM could have better handled the issue by taking  immediate action at the beginning.