Cong MLA must apologise to every Indian woman for rape remark: NCW chairperson

New Delhi, December 17

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma on Friday slammed Karnataka Congress MLA K R Ramesh Kumar for his controversial rape comment, saying he should apologise to every Indian woman.

The senior Congress leader sparked a controversy after he remarked in the Karnataka Assembly that when rape is inevitable, one should lie down and enjoy it.

"I strongly condemn the statement. These public representatives have been elected to represent the cause of women inside the Assembly. He should apologise to every woman of the country for making such a derogatory statement and strict action must be initiated against him," Sharma told PTI.

"It is extremely sad and unfortunate that we still have public representatives who are misogynists and have a horrible mindset towards women. It's really disgusting. If they sit in assemblies and speak like this how they must be behaving with women in their lives?" Sharma had tweeted earlier in the day.

Yogita Bhayana, an activist who heads the People Against Rape in India (PARI), said the comment by the shameless MLA came on a day when the country was observing nine years of the Delhi gangrape incident.

Sharing a video clip on Twitter, Bhayana said: "This video of Karnataka Legislative Assembly is from yesterday (Thursday) when the country was observing the nine years of the Nirbhaya incident. To protect our women, we vote for them (legislators) and this shameless (MLA) is calling rape enjoyment."  On Thursday, Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri found himself in a fix as he was running short of time and wanted to wind up the discussion by 6 pm whereas the MLAs were insisting to extend the time.

"I am in a situation where I have to enjoy and say 'yes, yes'. That's it. This is what I feel. I should give up controlling the situation and take the proceedings in a systematic manner, I should tell everyone to continue your talks," Kageri said laughing. He explained that his only grievance is that the business of the house is not happening.

Kumar, a former minister, intervened and said, "See, there is a saying- when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That's exactly the position in which you are". PTI