Karnataka Congress MLA embarrasses party making 'enjoy rape' remark, apologises
Bengaluru/New Delhi/IBNS: Embarrassing the grand old party, Karnataka Congress MLA and state assembly Speaker, KR Ramesh Kumar, made a controversial remark referring to "rape" to only later apologise facing criticism.
Amid noisy debates in the assembly on farmers, Kumar said as quoted by NDTV, "Whatever you decide - I will say yes. What I am thinking is that let us enjoy the situation. I can't control or regulate the system. My concern is about the business of the house, it has also to be covered."
"There is a saying that when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That is exactly the position which you are in," he added, triggering a shocking laughter in the assembly.
Distancing itself from the remark, the Congress has slammed Kumar with its spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeting, "Congress 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."
Congress Party disapproves the exchange of highly objectionable & insensitive banter between Karnataka Assembly Speaker & Sr. Congress MLA in the House.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 17, 2021
Speaker as custodian & Sr legislators are expected to be role models & should desist from such unacceptable behaviour.
Facing backlash, Kumar took to Twitter to apologise.
He 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!"
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!
— K. R. Ramesh Kumar (@KRRameshKumar1) December 16, 2021
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