Kerala's Minister for General Education, V Sivankutty, has stepped forward to defend a fellow Communist Party of India (Marxist) parliamentarian who faced intense online abuse. The controversy erupted after CPI(M) MP K K Rahim used English during a television interview in Karnataka.
Social Media Storm Targets MP's Language Choice
The incident that sparked the backlash occurred during an interaction with a television channel in Karnataka. CPI(M) MP K K Rahim chose to communicate in English, a decision that quickly made him the target of widespread trolling on various social media platforms. Critics used the opportunity to question his linguistic choices, often tying them to political and regional identities.
This online harassment prompted a strong response from within his own party. Coming to his defence, Minister V Sivankutty did not mince words in criticizing the trolls. He underscored that the focus should be on substantive work rather than superficial critiques of language.
"Actions Matter, Not Words": A Minister's Firm Stand
In his statement, Sivankutty articulated a clear principle. "Actions matter, not words," he asserted, redirecting public attention to the performance and deeds of elected representatives. By stating this, the Kerala minister highlighted the misplaced priorities of those attacking Rahim, suggesting that the quality of an MP's work in Parliament and their constituency holds far greater importance than the language they use in a media interaction.
The defence from a senior party figure like Sivankutty, reported on 29 December 2025, signals institutional support for Rahim. It also reflects a broader stance against the kind of personal and often trivial attacks that have become commonplace in political discourse online.
The Broader Implications for Political Discourse
This episode is more than just an isolated case of trolling. It touches upon several sensitive issues in India's diverse political landscape:
- Linguistic Politics: The attack on Rahim for using English taps into long-standing debates about language, identity, and elitism in Indian politics.
- Online Harassment: It showcases how social media is frequently weaponized to intimidate and distract public figures from opposition parties.
- Party Solidarity: The public backing by Sivankutty demonstrates the CPI(M)'s strategy of presenting a united front against external criticism.
The minister's rebuttal serves as a reminder to evaluate politicians based on their tangible contributions to governance and legislation. As the news developed, the focus shifted from the MP's choice of words to the larger question of how political merit is judged in the age of viral social media outrage.
