‘What can Oppn do if you are raped?’
FORMER DEPUTY CM KS ESHWARAPPA COURTED CONTROVERSY WITH THE SEXIST REMARK TO A WOMAN JOURNALIST
BENGALURU: Former deputy chief minister and leader of Opposition in the Karnataka legislature, KS Eshwarappa, triggered a protest from journalists in the state capital on Saturday with an allegedly sexist remark made to a female television reporter.
When Kannada TV reporter Poornima Hegde asked Eshwarappa during a press interaction why the opposition was silent on the growing number of crimes against women, he said on camera, “You are also a woman, you should understand this; if somebody abducts you and rapes you, what can we do as the opposition?”
The footage was quickly picked up by other Kannada channels and condemned in a rare show of solidarity in the intensely-competitive media circle of the state capital.
A delegation of journalists, led by senior woman journalist Gowri Lankesh, met chief minister Siddaramaiah and demanded action against the BJP leader.
Eshwarappa, who was also present when the delegation accosted the chief minister, refused to make a corrective statement and left the spot. Siddaramaiah did not miss the chance and said such a statement was not becoming of a senior leader and former deputy chief minister. He promised action and delegated the follow up to law minister TB Jayachandra.
The BJP is yet to make an official statement although a party spokesperson said Eshwarappa had been quoted out of context.