Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 31 -- Keralam, Labour Minister Bindu Krishna on Monday criticised prominent Sunni cleric and Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's participation in public life, saying such statements push women "centuries back" and cannot be accepted.

The minister was reacting to remarks made by Musliyar at the Hubbul Rasul Conference in Kochi, where the cleric defended recent directives issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama to local Mahalls regarding women's participation in religious celebrations.

"Constitution of India assures equal rights to women and men, irrespective of sex. The people have the right to live a free an...