Rape remark: NCW to summon Salman

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, June 27

The National Commission for Women (NCW) will shortly summon actor Salman Khan in connection with his alleged sexist remarks that have stirred a hornet’s nest.

Lalitha Kumaramangalam, NCW chairperson, said here today that the actor had failed to respond to a notice served on him by the commission. The contention that Khan was abroad did not spare him from responding to the notice, she said.

Kumaramangalam said, “Summon to appear before the NCW would be served to the actor soon. We have taken the matter very seriously.”

During a film promotion, Khan had reportedly stated that intense wrestling scenes made him feel like a raped woman, leading to a backlash from various quarters against the Bollywood superstar.

The NCW chairperson alleged that there had been a breakdown of law and order in Bihar. Referring to the recent cases of attrocities on women in the state, she said, “These are horrendous crimes and attempts at cover up. The police have in each case mysteriously lost one document or the other.” She appreciated the role of local media in bringing to the fore the recent cases in that state.

She maintained that there was a lack of political will to deal with such crimes and said she would meet the Union Home Minister and raise the matter with him.

Problems faced by women owing to customary laws in vogue and unique social-geographical-economic situation of Northeast came up for detailed discussion during a day-long regional consultation on Draft National Policy for Women 2016 here today.