Kochi: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday criticised the stand of certain IUML leaders on the state government's gender neutral policy, alleging that they were trying to mislead the people and sought to know why they were afraid of equal opportunity for women in the society.

Slamming the statements of IUML leaders M K Muneer and P M A Salam on the issue, Sivankutty said the state government has repeatedly clarified its stand and those who are criticising the initiatives for gender equality, gender justice and gender awareness were not reading the writings of time on the wall.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the students' programme Akasha Mittayi Season 2, organised at Kalamassery here.

"In recent days, we have seen the statements of some leaders regarding gender equality. Why are they afraid of gender equality? Why are they worried about equal opportunity and equal justice for their mother, sister, wife and daughter?" he said. He also said, “ They must ask the women at home; They do not read the wall writings of the time.”

Sivankutty made it clear that if it was the case of gender neutral uniform or mixed schools, the CPM-led government does not impose any compulsion on anyone.

The government was not insisting on wearing any particular uniform or to convert any particular girls/boys school as a mixed institution, he explained, adding that converting boys-only or girls-only schools into mixed schools is also not compelled. However, if the school itself decides and approaches, with the support of the PTA and the local self-governance institution’s nod, the government will not turn its back.

"However, certain persons are trying to mislead the people despite repeated clarification by the government in this regard," the minister added.

After Muneer, it was Salam who had made another controversial remark on Friday saying boys and girls seated together in schools was "dangerous".

While speaking in a seminar on Thursday, Muneer had triggered a controversy asking, "If there is gender neutrality, why do you need a POCSO case? Therefore, when you say gender neutrality, you need to think about the many people in society who will misuse it."

However, he had clarified later that what he had meant to convey was that he was afraid gender neutrality would be defined in such a manner that provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act would become ineffective.