When Tarana Burke started #MeToo, who would have thought it will arrive in India and how!
But ever since the movement broke out, there’s been a slew of commentary on ‘what the movement sets out to do’. While some have come out and extended massive support to the women who are finally mustering courage to speak against those men in power who made life and work a trauma, some have left us aghast at their (no)pologies or comments.
In response, Quint NEON has something to say to these people!
Vinod Dua’s “Kayde Ke Sawaal’
An under-investigation Dua, took to the platform to dismiss the allegations against him, and dubbed them as “muck.” Slighting the media coverage of MeToo as overzealous, Dua had also made an attempt to reduce the movement to mere mudslinging.
Kayde se sawaal ye pooche jaane chahiye iss waqt lekin media sab sawaalon ko bhula kar ek hi vishay pe kayam hai (These are the questions that should be asked at this point of time but the media has forgotten all questions and is focusing only on one issue)Vinod Dua on The Wire’s Jan Gan Man Ki Baat
Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Passing Phase’
After being accused of sexually harassing a fellow author, Bhagat’s statement on the issue has been a source of amusement for many. While categorically denying the charges against him, he also felt the need to share how his over friendliness with the alleged victim could have been the result of a passing phase. Besides, stuff like this can ‘just happen’, right?
I also want to clarify that there never was was nothing physical, no lewd pictures or words that were ever exchanged. I think I deleted the person’s number soon thereafter and we haven’t been in touch for years.We do feel certain things sometimes, and I did too. I found this person special, and different from all others I had met. I shouldn’t have, and maybe I shouldn’t have shared it with that person in a private conversation either.Chetan Bhagat
Tavleen Singh’s Online Tutorial
Journalist Tavleen Singh sparked some sharp rhetorts on Twitter when her comments suggested that women should know bettter than to put themselvces in harms way..
Why So Serious, Asks Asrani
Some Bollywood actors like Farhan Akhtar, Swara Bhaskar, Richa Chadha and Sonam Kapoor have come out and supported the movement but most are still resisting. Senior actor Asrani is one of the many.
He said:
“Accusations and blames are all filmy things. Mere accusations mean nothing, don’t take this seriously. If you publish Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, no one will read it but if it’s Madhuri Dixit’s or Madhubala’s autobiography people will come and read it.”Asrani
When asked what he thought of the #MeToo movement, Indian Member of Parliament Udit Raj termed India’s #MeToo a “wrong practice”.
Udit Raj Vs #Metoo
“#MeToo movement is important but what is the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody ten years later? How will the truth in these allegations be established after so long? The person on whose the allegations will be levelled, how much it will tarnish his image is worth giving a thought. A wrong practice is being initiated. How is it possible that a girl who is in a live-in relationship can level rape allegations against her partner and he is booked and sent to jail. Such incidents are happening so frequently these days. Isn’t it being used for blackmailing?”Udit Raj, MP
Subhash Ghai's Head-Scratching Denial
Senior Bollywood director, Subhash Ghai, was accused of raping a women after spiking her drink.
“It is sad that it is becoming a fashion to malign anyone known, bringing some stories from past without any truth or blown up false allegations if all. I deny strictly and firmly all false allegations like these.”Subhash Ghai
And then he went on to say...
Senior actor Alok Nath, who gained popularity as the ‘Babuji’ of Hindi cinema was also accused by veteran TV producer Vinta Nanda. In a detailed Facebook post, she talks about the alleged horrendous misbehaviour at the hands of Alok Nath.
Alok Nath Says a Lot of Nothing
Alok Nath wins it hand down for the best-ever denial.
“Neither I am denying this nor do agree with it. It (rape) must have happened, but someone else would have done it. Well, I do not want to talk much about it as for the matter if it has come out, it will be stretched.”Alok Nath
Mr. Nath has also gone on to file a defamation case against Vinta Nanda.
Abhijeet’s ‘Fat’ Lie?
Singer Abhijeet is also facing sexual harassment allegations which emerged after #MeToo gained momentum. In a detailed Facebook post the woman alleged that Abhijeet “grabbed” her by wrist and “pulled” her closer for refusing to dance or get intimate with him. After the allegations surfaced, the singer denied everything and even said he “wasn’t born at the time”.
Somebody told me over the call. I was not born at that time. I have never gone to pubs in my life. You’ll never find me at any page 3 or filmy parties. My name sells. If someone’s benefiting from it, good. Sometimes earning their bread and butter with my name, it’s fine. I don’t know against whom should I take action. Why should I give attention to that person? You are giving it importance not me. Most of the people who are coming out right now are dirty, ugly people. Koi mota hai koi patla hai. No one deserves (the attention). Just to grab some attention they are coming out. Most of the fat and ugly girls are blaming and I wasn’t born at that time.Abhijeet Bhattacharya
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