(Ajitha, Former Naxalite Terrorist 'Exposes' Sex Scandal Becomes Social Activist and Head of NGO. Becomes Champion of Indian Women's Causes; Star Witness in Sex Scandal Reveals It Was All A Setup.)

From Violent Terrorism to Social Terrorism

Prime witness in sex racket blames activist
November 04, 2004 20:46 IST

A prime witness in the sensational ice cream parlour sex racket case in Kerala on Thursday retracted her latest charges of sexual harassment against state Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty saying an NGO activist "forced her to say everything."

Rejina, who was arrested and produced in a court in Kozhikode in connection with a suicide case, told reporters outside the premises that a social activist, Ajita, who brought the alleged sex scandal to limelight in 1996, "forced me to say everything." http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/nov/04sex.htm

Ajitha, the Activist's View on the Anti-Hindu film 'Fire.'
What is your view on the controversy surrounding Deepa Mehta's film Fire?

Deepa Mehta has criticised an upper-caste Hindu structure. The opposition to the film from certain fundamentalists is unfortunate. I don't think lesbianism is the issue against which they are agitated. Their ire is against the attack on the Hindu structure. This should be fought tooth and nail. Otherwise it will invite other dangers.

FULL INTERVIEW http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jan/12keral1.htm

The Naxalite movement, which stormed Kerala in the 1950s and '60s, withered away by the end of the '70s, sending most of the people involved into oblivion. A few, however, have managed to keep their revolutionary ardour alive and work to improve society. One such is Ajitha.

After her release from prison in 1977 after a nine-year incarceration, Ajitha tried to play the role of conventional housewife for a while, marrying and giving birth to a child. Until 1988, when a conference of women's organisations in Bombay stirred her into action again and she founded an organisation called 'Bodhana' (Awareness), based in Kozhikode (Calicut).

At that time, however, the women's movement was in its infancy in Kerala and Bodhana died a premature death after the fourth conference of women's organisations in Calicut. Ajitha then set up another organisation called 'Anweshi' (Searcher) in 1993, which she says has grown out of its infancy and now commands attention.

Anweshi came into the limelight with the exposure of the sensational Calicut sex scandal involving several top politicians and influential public figures. It has goaded the police machinery into action, though the politicians have so far managed to evade the net.

Ajitha, however, is not one to give in easily. After an agitation yielded no result, she moved the Supreme Court to get the politicians, including Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty, arrested.

Ajitha worked briefly with the Janadipatya Samrakshana Samiti (Committee to Save Democracy), founded by former Communist Party of India-Marxist leader K R Gouri 'Amma'. But she soon found that she could not adjust with the ways of the veteran politician and parted company.