As protests against Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mullackal continue in Kerala, actress Richa Chadha slams Kerala MLA PC George, who questioned the character of the nun in derogatory terms after she complained of being sexually assaulted by the bishop. "A sitting MLA questions the character of a NUN and a rape victim. You can be a nun and people will find a way to malign you, shame you, call you a prostitute," read a part of Richa's tweet. Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, PC George told the press: "Is there any doubt that the nun is a prostitute? 12 times it was pleasure, 13th time it became a rape? Where was she when it happened 12 times?" In her complaint, the alleged rape survivor accused Bishop Franco of sexually abusing her 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
"He now targets the women's commission. Indian politics, divided on issues, united in misogyny. We deserve better leaders," Richa Chadha added in her tweet on Tuesday afternoon. After PC George's callous remarks, National Commission For Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma demanded that strict action be taken against him: "I am ashamed of such lawmakers who are giving these statements instead of helping women. This is absolutely shameful. The NCW has already taken up the matter and we will write to DGP demanding strict action against him," she had said.
Read Richa Chadha's tweet here:
A sitting MLA questions the character of a NUN and a rape victim. You can be a nun and people will find a way to malign you, shame you, call you a prostitute. He now targets the women's commission. Indian politics,divided on issues, united in misogyny.We deserve better leaders
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) September 11, 2018
Ahead of Richa Chadha, her colleague Swara Bhasker condemned PC George's comments as "absolutely shameful and disgusting", after which she entered into a Twitter battle with filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri. Mr Agnihotri's tweet in response to hers, insensitively referenced the #MeToo campaign and read: "Where is the placard - #MeTooProstituteNun?" He deleted the tweet after Swara brought it to Twitter's notice and got his account suspended. However, their Twitter exchanges continue:
Absolutely shameful and disgusting!!!! Scum present across political spectrums and religious divides in India. Literally nauseating! https://t.co/zb8NkUaW5x
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 9, 2018
Vivek. Just want to point out that you are using the trauma of women who are rape survivors to slut shame and abuse in public a woman you don't like. In the rare moments of sanity that may visit your brain - otherwise unhinged with hate- think about how low that is. #scum https://t.co/yOpo8nxWqS
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 9, 2018
Girls! (& boys & everyone) DO NOT allow cyber bullies & haters to shame you or humiliate you on public platforms!! Resist, challenge and call out bullies & misogynists! Thank you @TwitterIndia @Twitter @TwitterSupport You just made the virtual public sphere a little bit better :) pic.twitter.com/MmhOkofq4C
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 10, 2018
Dear @ReallySwara, thnx for curbing my FoE. Very liberal,indeed. It's given me strong motivation & made me more determined to defeat India's enemies- #UrbanNaxals. Last time it was your mother who stopped my film at JNU. And you know what happened. Thnx for rejuvenating our fight https://t.co/Fh44wexuso
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 11, 2018
Meanwhile, fellow nuns from the convent in Kottayam, to which the nun who accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of sexual assault belongs, are leading a protest demanding justice against "their sister." While the nuns alleged that the police are delaying the investigation to help the accused bishop evade charges, the special team looking into the matter said that initial investigations point out that Bishop Franco abused his position and repeatedly raped the nun, reported news agency PTI. The bishop has been questioned once so far by the Kerala police last month.
