The #MeToo allegations that have roiled the Kerala film industry starting last week spilled over into the state’s political sphere Monday after senior BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar cited ex-Congress leader Simi Rose Bell John‘s claim of a “casting couch” in the party’s state unit.
The former Union Minister ripped into his rivals, accusing them of double standards when top leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra flag crimes against women and protecting women’s dignities. “… in their own party there are people looking for justice,” he declared.
“This is a very shameful example of what the Congress really is… there is a woman leader who says ‘I want justice… I was harassed.’ But the complaint is not investigated… nobody holds an investigation to give her justice. Instead, she is dismissed. This is the true colour of Congress.”
“The people of India should know the truth about the Congress… about how they speak one thing before elections and do exactly the opposite after an election…” he said.
#WATCH | On the allegation levelled by former Congress leader Simi Rose Bell John, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar says “Kerala recently, after five years of back-footing and back-peddling, the left government has been forced to release the HEMA committee report, which has… pic.twitter.com/W3JqNqqjwn
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2024
Mr Chandrasekhar also referred to the Visakha Committee rules, which mandate any employer to fully investigate sexual harassment claims at the workplace. “… but no. The Congress does not believe in that. When a woman leader alleges exploitation they silence and remove her…”
The Congress has not yet responded to Mr Chandrasekhar’s attack.
On Sunday the party’s state unit expelled Ms Bell John from its ranks, declaring her allegations were aimed at mentally harassing and defaming lakhs of other women leaders and workers.
She was acting, the party’s state unit claimed, “in collusion with political adversaries”.
Expelled Congress leader Simi Rose Bell John.
Ms Bell John had claimed only those close to the Congress’ senior leaders get opportunities.
Hitting out after her expulsion, she targetted the Congress’ state boss, VD Sathesan, and said, “If they have evidence (of collusion with the ruling CPIM) … it should be released.”
Ms Bell John’s accusations come as several senior members of the Malayalam film industry, or Mollywood, face sexual assault charges, including rape. The senior leadership of the industry’s top actor’s body, Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, or AMMA, including veteran actor Mohanlal, the President, has resigned. One of the accused actors is M Mukesh, a CPIM MLA.
READ | “My Statement Is True”: Soniya Malhaar Over #MeToo Allegations
The raft of allegations followed the release of a report by the Justice Hema Committee, which inquired into sexual abuse allegations in Mollywood after a 2017 case in which an actor was assaulted.
The report was submitted in 2019 but was mired in legal challenges – from those within the film industry – prohibiting its release until the High Court’s ruling last month.
The battery of claims and allegations have provoked a bitter political squabble in the state, with the opposition – the BJP and the Congress – criticising Chief Minister Pinaryai Vijayan’s CPIM.
READ | “Something Wrong With Indian Men…”: Tharoor On Mollywood #MeToo
In a lengthy interview with NDTV last week, the Congress’ Shashi Tharoor called for changes to Indian society and remarked also “there must be something wrong with Indian men”.
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