The term "paadasevakar" (servants) is the language of those still stuck in feudal mindsets; the controversies are due to Divya’s partner’s political affiliation – Priya Varghese.

In response to the controversy surrounding Divya S. Iyer's praise for K.K. Ragesh, his wife Priya Varghese has come forward with a statement. She alleged that the controversy stems from Divya's husband's political stance. Priya clarified that Divya’s actions do not violate any service rules and that there is a good friendship between Ragesh and Divya. She questioned whether people still believe that a woman should only associate with others based on her partner's political ideology, and asked what era such people are living in.

Priya further stated that the term "paadasevakar" (servants) is a phrase used by those with a feudal mindset. People with modern thinking would refer to someone as a “colleague of the Chief Minister,” she said. According to her, Divya S. Iyer simply showed respect to a fellow human being in a modern and civilized manner. The comment she made as a colleague while leaving office is what has been turned into a controversy. Priya asserted that this backlash is rooted in patriarchal attitudes, as she expressed in her Facebook post.