Karnataka's Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar on Thursday stirred a huge controversy when he said in the state Assembly that when rape is inevitable, one should lie down and enjoy it. The sexist comment was made when the Congress MLA was arguing with the Speaker to discuss farmers' issues in the Assembly. Kumar's outrageous remark has drawn a lot of criticisms across the nation and from his own party colleagues who have demanded an apology for his remark on the floor of the house. KR Ramesh Kumar himself was Speaker of the House in the past.
Key points
1. On Thursday, Congress MLA Kumar demanded time to discuss farmers' issues on the floor of the house, to which Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said, “I am in a situation where I have to enjoy and say ‘yes, yes’. 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.”
2. Responding to the Speaker, former speaker KR Kumar said, ”There is a saying that when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That is exactly the position which you are in.” After this derogatory statement, all the members of the assembly laughed, as per the media reports.
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3. Following this unacceptable statement, Kumar was hugely criticised from every quarter including his own party colleagues. “The House shall apologise to entire womanhood, every mother, sister and daughter of this nation for such an obnoxious and shameless behaviour,” Congress MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar tweeted.
4. However, after massive outrage, the MLA took tweeted, "I would like to express my sincere apologies to everyone for the indifferent and negligent comment I made in today’s assembly about “Rape!” My intention was not trivialise or make light of the heinous crime, but an off the cuff remark! I will choose my words carefully henceforth!"
5. Karnataka has a high crime rate against women and the state has registered 1,168 rape cases between January 2019 and May 2021.
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