A sexist remark by a Karnataka Congress MLA and its justification by some of his male colleagues have generated controversy, with the party central leadership rushing to condemn the comment.
Perpetrator K.R. Ramesh Kumar, a former Speaker, apologised in the Assembly on Friday, a day after saying in the House: “When rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it.”
A video clip purportedly shows Kumar, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and several other male lawmakers laughing at the quip.
Earlier, Kageri, flooded with requests from members for permission to speak on rain-induced crop loss, had said he was willing to let them speak. “My position is that of a person who has to enjoy something that is inevitable,” he said.
Kumar stood up and said: “There is a saying — when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it.”
After women members, including some from the Congress, demanded an apology, Kumar told the Assembly on Friday: “I have no problem in apologising if it (his comment) has hurt women’s sentiments. I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Kumar had earlier tweeted an apology with a promise to watch his tongue in future.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra tweeted late on Friday: “I wholeheartedly condemn the statement made earlier today by Sri. K.R. Ramesh Kumar. It is inexplicable how anyone can ever utter such words, they are indefensible. Rape is a heinous crime. Full stop.”
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “Party disapproves the exchange of highly objectionable & insensitive banter between Karnataka Assembly Speaker & Sr. Congress MLA in the House. Speaker as custodian & Sr legislators are expected to be role models & should desist from such unacceptable behaviour.”
State Congress president D.K. Shivakumar and senior leader C.M. Ibrahim had earlier defended Kumar on Friday. “The home minister said the Congress was raping him. Why isn’t anyone talking about that?” Shivakumar told reporters.
State home minister Araga Jnanendra had in August accused the Congress of “trying to rape me” over a rape case in Mysore.
Ibrahim refused to condemn Kumar’s remarks saying he had “spoken in a language this government understands”.
Kumar had made misogynistic remarks earlier too. In February 2019, when he was Speaker, he had compared himself to a rape survivor after an audio tape purportedly suggested he had been bribed to condone a mass defection by Congress-JDS members to the BJP.
Kumar had said the manner of his being cornered resembled the way a raped woman “is raped several times during the cross-examination in court”.
Several women legislators had objected, forcing Kumar to expunge his own remarks.
