The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) strongly condemns the highly objectionable statements made by the ex-speaker Ramesh Kumar in the Karnataka assembly. It is equally deplorable that no one in the assembly criticized these statements. It is disgusting that the speaker of the assembly Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri did not make any attempts to stop him.
Crimes against women are on a rise in our country. NCRB data clearly shows an increase in sexual assaults on women and girl children. It is disturbing that an elected member makes fun of violence against women. It reflects a total lack of sensitivity towards the trauma that victims of rape undergo. Girl children who are victims of sexual assault go through physical and emotional ordeal for a long time. The statements by the MLA Ramesh Kumar reflects his unconcern towards the intense suffering of the victims of rape.
Women’s organisations have continually faced patriarchal and insensitive behavior from the police and administration at various levels when fighting for justice for victims of violence. There is no rehabilitation process in place in spite of the loud proclamations of the governments. The Nirbhaya Fund set up for rehabilitation is inadequate and the allotted amount too is diverted.
Though the ex-speaker Ramesh Kumar has apologized now, he has made similar anti-women comments earlier too. Such irresponsible utterances in fact directly condone the violence against women and an encouragement to those accused of these crimes.
AIDWA demands that action should be taken against such elected members for dereliction of duty as they have taken an oath under the Indian Constitution to uphold the principles of justice.
