Bengaluru: Another Union Minister has landed himself in a controversy for making sexiest remarks. Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi was caught on camera asking a woman journalist of Mathrubhumi TV channel whether she had any personal experiences with Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien who is embroiled in the Suryanelli sex scandal.
When the reporter asked Ravi if the High Command still stood by Kurien in the sex scandal issue, the Minister shot back: "Do you have anything personal against Kurien? I am sure you do. Has something happened between you and him in the past?"
The remarks, made in Alappuzha, triggered a huge protest in Kerala. Women journalists in Kochi protested against Ravi’s defamatory comment to a woman journalist in Alappuzha. At a meeting held at Press Club on Tuesday, around 25 journalists alleged that Ravi’s behaviour showed lack of sensitivity needed for a leader of his stature. Later, Ravi apologised to the journalist.
Members of the Kerala chapter of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) have condemned the comments made by Ravi.
The Minister’s words reveal that he considers the whole incident to be a joke. The posture, body language and statements were unbecoming of a man of his experience in public life as a people’s representative, the members said.
“We believe that if women journalists who have to ask questions and get reactions to current affairs are treated in this manner, then the plight of common women would be worse off,” they added.
Women journalists plan to petition President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the issue.
साभार- डेक्कन क्रानिकल
