Jaleel targets IUML ministers over language issues

Former higher education minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leader KT Jaleel has urged the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to initiate legal action against him over the Mannarkkad dispute, saying he will not seek anticipatory bail.

The commission registered a suo motu case against Dr. Jaleel after a video of his interaction with students at a felicitation program for SSLC and Plus Two toppers in Mannarkkad went viral. Critics claimed he publicly insulted students after he was seen holding a child by the ear.

Dr. Jaleel denied the allegations and said he did not hurt or intend to humiliate the student. He said that the gesture was merely a frivolous act by the teacher and that the student himself did not feel affected.

‘Ready to apologize’

“I did not pinch the child or cause any pain. If any student or parent who participated in the program felt offended, I am ready to apologize a hundredfold,” he said.

Dr. Jaleel, who has taught at PSMO College in Tirurangadi for over 12 years, said his remarks were made in the way a teacher interacts with students. He said he raised concerns about the limited reading habits of students, especially their lack of exposure to Malayalam literature.

“Students themselves said they did not feel insulted. Many students today have limited reading habits and are mostly dependent on textbooks. I spoke to them in this regard,” he said.

In response to criticism of student quality and allegations of declining educational standards, Dr. Jaleel said language errors are common among children and adults and should not be associated with students who studied during the tenure of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

“Now a story is being created that such mistakes among children are because they studied in schools during the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Such mistakes between children and adults have always happened,” he said.

Slams IUML

Dr. Jaleel then turned his criticism on Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders, referring to linguistic mistakes made by senior politicians.

Referring to how Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty listed the spelling of ‘Kerala’ as ‘Karalam’, he asked whether Mr Kunhalikutty had studied in schools during the Pinarayi Vijayan regime.

He also targeted Education Minister N. Samsudheen for an alleged error in pronouncing figures and asked if he was a product of Kerala’s public education system in the last decade.

Dr. Jaleel also referred to Public Works Minister PK Basheer and his reported use of phrases like “maya, kuyi, puya…”, arguing that the language slurs are not limited to students.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 20:29 IST