Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed disappointment over the way the Kerala government sat on the Justice Hema Committee report that spoke of the horrors that actresses and women employees of the Malayalam film industry had to face. In an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, Tharoor said he was shocked how a minister said the women didn’t complain to the government but to the committee.
“Male artists, actors, directors, males who call the shots (which is clearly established) on the sets have some responsibility. We had been hearing some rumours about the casting couch too in various film industries across the world and certainly across India but the women of Kerala had the courage to demand an enquiry,” Tharoor said.
“I am very disappointed by the state government for sitting on the report which was submitted in 2019 by all women committee that wrote the report, including Justice Hema,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said, taking aim at the Kerala government. They worked extremely diligently. The names of the accusers and the accused were listed on 69 pages. I’m happy that a judge has noticed and ordered the police to submit FIRs on their own.
“I was taken aback to learn that a minister had offered an explanation, claiming that women had complained to a government-appointed committee rather than the government itself and that the complaint ought to have been given careful consideration. I apologize that five years passed and nothing was done by the government. It’s finally in the open,” Tharoor continued.
In response to questions concerning calls for CPI(M) MLA Mukesh’s resignation due to accusations of rape and sexual assault, Tharoor stated that those mentioned should accept moral responsibility and added that they could fight in court if they were found not guilty.
“Those who were employed by AMMA have resigned. Others must accept moral accountability as well. If someone who was not in a position of authority in the system is accused, he or she has every right to defend themselves, even if he or she denies the accusations. Although he has the right to appear in court and attempt to clear his name, many in my party are also calling for his resignation. But now is the time to begin the process,” Tharoor stated.
Speaking on the subject of women’s safety, Tharoor stated that while laws must be put in place, society must also alter. We must conduct a thorough root and branch investigation of our own society. In order to teach our boys the value of respecting women, I insisted on general sensitivity training when I was a minister, even at the age of six. Try to ensure that institutional measures are in place to safeguard women’s interests at every level, such as separate restrooms in hospitals or designated rest areas, according to Tharoor.
He went on to say that society should stop victimizing people and increase security and patrols. “We must put an end to these patriarchal inquiries about her whereabouts and need for police presence on that particular street. It is our women’s right to live their lives and aspirations in safety. The Congress MP declared, “We must fight for this because it is a fundamental human right.”
On August 19, 2024, the three-member Justice Hema Committee’s report was made public. The committee was established in 2017. The report underscores the continued existence of practices such as the casting couch within the Malayalam film industry, wherein women are frequently coerced into providing sexual favors in order to land roles and prevent blacklisting.
Many women in the Kerala film industry have come out after the report’s publication, and a number of well-known figures have been accused of sexual misconduct, including MLA Mukesh, actor Siddiqui, director Ranjith, and Jayasurya.
