AMMA VP Jagadeesh takes dissenting stand, demands inquiry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minutes after AMMA downplayed the allegations of sexual abuse in the Hema Commission report as isolated incidents, the organisation’s vice-chairman Jagadeesh spoke out and demanded a thorough probe into the allegations.

Jagadeesh told the media on Friday: “If an actress had said in her statement that someone had been knocking on her room door continuously at night with some wrong intention, then it should have been investigated. It is not relevant to say that this has happened at other workplaces too.”

Responding to a question about the allegations against minister and ATMA chairman KB Ganesh Kumar, Jagadeesh said an inquiry should be conducted if allegations have been made against anyone.

“If an actress had told you about it, you wouldn’t have to question it. It is criminal exploitation. Otherwise, no one would just file a complaint. If the women who were exploited complained, who are we to just dismiss it? It is true that the complaints filed with the Hema committee were not filed with AMMA. However, that doesn’t mean that such incidents never happen. We have to believe them and investigate who all were deprived of the opportunity to say NO to sexual exploitation,” he said. The AMMA vice-president also said that it was not practical to set up an Internal Complaints Committee as it would have to be formed on every set. “We should look at the possibility of setting up ICC by involving the representatives of AMMA, FEFKA and the producers’ association. The complaints from WCC should also be taken into consideration. If AMMA has a complaint, it should also be investigated,” he added.

Jagadeesh, however, rejected the allegation that there was a power group in the industry that interfered in the selection of artists. “That is a generalisation. It is not correct to say that the survivor in the actor kidnapping case is not getting any opportunities. Her next project is a big one,” he said.