Congress disapproves Karnatataka party MLA's shocking 'rape' remark, MLA apologizes

Congress on Friday disapproved the sexist remarks made by senior Karnataka Congress leader and former Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on rape in the Karnataka Assembly. Earlier in the day Kumar, currently, a Congress MLA apologized for his controversial remark made in the state Assembly.

New Delhi: A day after Karnataka Congress MLA made an egregious "enjoy rape" comment in the state Assembly, the party disowned itself from the remark and even called it "unacceptable". Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala stated, "Speaker as custodian and senior legislators are expected to be role models & should desist from such unacceptable behaviour. Congress Party disapproves the exchange of highly objectionable and insensitive banter between Karnataka Assembly Speaker and senior Congress MLA in the House."

Speaking to ETV Bharat, All Indian Mahila Congress President Netta D'Souza said, "This is not done. We are firmly against such views. It is very unfortunate that it is our own party MLA who has said this. But I'm also very surprised at the way the Speaker laughed up and continued the discussion. The Speaker should have had the guts to stop the discussion there and pull up the MLA and to give him a notice immediately."

On Thursday, Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar made a derogatory remark against women in the Karnataka Assembly saying that "when rape is inevitable lie down and enjoy".

His comments led to an embarrassing situation for Congress both inside as well as outside the Parliament as various attacks being made upon the party in reference to its poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh with a slogan of "Ladki hun, Lad sakti hun".

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Friday raised the matter in Lok Sabha saying that the remarks of Karnataka Congress leader on rape should be condemned and demanded that the political party should sack the legislator from the party.

"We will ask Smriti Irani to check her own house first. How many Ministers and MLAs are rapists, check their crime record, then talk about others. It's not about I'm endorsing anything," D'Souza replied to Irani's comments.

Earlier in the day Kumar, currently, a Congress MLA apologized for his controversial remark made in the state Assembly.

"If it hurts the sentiments of women, I've no problem apologising. I apologize from the bottom of my heart," said Kumar.

Responding to this Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said, "he has apologized, let's not drag it further."

Kumar on Thursday said in the Assembly that "There is a saying that when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That is exactly the position in which you are."'

Kumar made the comments after the debate on crop loss due to untimely rain was drawn out as more members sought time to speak on the issue, which led to the Speaker saying that his position was like someone who is forced to enjoy an unfortunate situation when it's being forced on one.

"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," the Speaker told the members.

When the Congress MLA made the offensive remark, other members including the Speaker were seen and heard laughing instead of condemning the remarks.

Kumar, during his tenure as the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, compared himself to a rape survivor.