BJP candidate in Vattiyoorkavu and Kerala’s first female IPS officer to reach the rank of DGP on Friday alleged that the government ignored instances of love jihad in the state.
Speaking at a “Brunch with Sreelekha” event at Sasthamangalam here, the former IPS officer alleged that the Kerala government has ignored critical issues like “love jihad” leading to a decline in safety for women.
She claimed that even as a senior police officer, she faced distressing situations without receiving support from the department or the DGP. “When I, as a police officer, had a bad experience, even the DGP did not stand by me. Because the DGP can stand by me only if he has political permission, “ Sreelekha said.
“It is estimated that crime against women has increased fivefold between 2021 and 2026. This is happening because it is encouraged in Kerala. There is a society here that thinks that it is okay to commit crimes against women,” she added.
“We have a government here that does not believe in God and is ruled by ministers who have no faith in God. They do not attach any importance to the crimes committed against women,” she said.
She also questioned what action the government took when a minister’s wife recently faced a similar situation. “It is only because political influence in the police is so strong that women are not safe. Recently, when a minister’s wife was locked up and unable to leave, she called 112 but did not get any help from the police. This is because the minister is on the other side. Politics is the price here, nothing more than that,” Sreelekha said.
Her remarks come as the BJP positions Sreelekha as a “dark horse” to flip the Vattiyurkavu seat in the 2026 Assembly elections, following her successful run as a councilor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Her statements have intensified the political debate in Kerala, blending her professional legacy in law enforcement with the BJP’s campaign narrative on gender-based security.