Opposition attacks Kerala govt over Hema committee report

Thiruvananthapuram:

The Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed the shocking harassment and sexual exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, created a political storm in Kerala on Tuesday. While opposition parties criticised the Left government for its silence and inaction in the past four years, the government reaffirmed its support for the victims despite receiving the report.

The Congress-led UDF questioned whether the government had kept the report confidential to protect the accused. It also alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government was siding with the ‘hunters’ instead of the hapless victims.

The BJP had strongly criticised the government and Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan, accusing them of not taking legal action against the accused despite receiving information about the crimes committed by them.

However, the government rejected the allegations and made it clear that it had already taken measures to implement the Committee’s recommendations and suggestions.

“The government always stands with the victims…and with the women community,” Saji Cheriyan told reporters.

The minister said that no specific name had been mentioned in connection with the report. According to him, the Supreme Court and the Information Commission had decided which parts of the report would be made public.

Mr Cheriyan said the government would discuss all aspects of the report and take further action in necessary areas.

“It was Judge Hema who first said that the report should not have been made public because of its confidential nature,” the minister said. He added that a government-organized film conclave would be held to discuss all these issues.

However, the minister’s response did not go down well with the opposition parties Congress and BJP. Doubts were raised whether the government had kept the report confidential so far to protect the accused.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, VD Satheesan, alleged that the government was trying to protect the privacy of the accused and asked the authorities to register a case based on the Hema Commission report.

“Sexual exploitation, including assaults under the POCSO Act, had taken place. Yet, the cultural affairs minister says a film conclave will be held to discuss the issues,” Satheesan told reporters at Chempazhanthy near here.

He added that the people of the state should judge a Minister of Culture who speaks of holding a conclave when such serious violations have been reported.

Senior BJP leader and former minister V Muraleedharan attacked Cheriyan and said the culture minister was also guilty of the crime by not taking action on the report so far.

“Saji Cheriyan has no moral right to continue in his position. The Vijayan government has failed to protect the rights of women and children and ensure safe living conditions in the state,” he told a press conference here.

When asked by reporters for his reaction, actor-politician and Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said he had not read the report but was confident the government would take necessary action.

“So far, no one in the film industry has complained to me. If someone came to me with such a problem, I would raise my voice for them,” he said.

While senior CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja wanted stricter laws and comprehensive reforms in the film industry to tackle such crimes against women, CPI(M) central committee member AK Balan said the government has legal restrictions in registering cases based on the report.

The shocking revelations in the Hema Commission report on harassment of women in the Malayalam cinema industry have led to strong reactions in society, calling for strict measures to ensure a safe working environment and equal treatment for women professionals.

“Based on the suggestions of the Hema Committee, the Women’s Commission will recommend to the government to take necessary steps to ensure that there are grievance redressal committees at shooting locations as envisaged under the POSH Act,” P Sathi Devi, chairperson of the women’s panel, said on Monday.

POSH Act stands for Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an organisation of women professionals in the industry, welcomed the publication of the report and expressed hope that the government would take all necessary steps to study and act upon the recommendations. The WCC has long been urging that the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry be addressed and that necessary interventions from the government be sought to ensure gender equality there.

“It has been a long journey for us! We believed that our fight for justice for all women who want a dignified professional space in the film industry was the right fight… We are in the right. The publication of the Hema Commission report is another step that WCC has taken,” it said in a Facebook post on Monday.

The long-awaited report, published on Monday, contains explosive reports of intimidation, exploitation and abuse of female professionals in the film industry, with claims that a “criminal gang” dominates the industry and forces unwilling women out of the market.

The Kerala government set up the panel following the 2017 actress sexual assault case involving actor Dileep. The panel sought to investigate sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published via a syndicated feed.)