Outrage as lawmaker says 'if rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it'
A politician from India has drawn severe flak globally after he cracked an offensive rape joke in the parliament, while other male lawmakers burst into laughter. Congressional leader Ramesh Kumar, who hails from the state of Karnataka, was speaking on December 16 at the parliament on the issue of countrywide farmers' protests. While interrupting a heated debate, Kumar chimed in to say, "There is a saying: When rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it."
House speaker Vishweshwar Kageri and other male leaders laughed out loud at the shocking remark, which left the female lawmakers mortified and seething in anger. They directly called out Kumar for joking about a horrifying issue that continues to plague India. The country is notorious for its rape culture — the term used to describe the patriarchal mindset of the larger society that often enables sexual assault and sexual violence.
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Kumar later took to Twitter to apologize for his shocking comment, as he admitted that it was 'negligent' on his part. "My intention was not trivialise or make light of the heinous crime, but [to make] an off the cuff remark! I will choose my words carefully henceforth," he tweeted. His apology did little to placate the online outrage as #ArrestRameshKumar started trending all over Twitter in India. He himself refused to appear for an on-camera apology as he declined to address the outrage.
I would like to express my sincere apologies to everyone for the indifferent and negligent comment I made in today’s assembly about “Rape!” My intention was not trivialise or make light of the heinous crime, but an off the cuff remark! I will choose my words carefully henceforth!
— K. R. Ramesh Kumar (@KRRameshKumar1) December 16, 2021
At the parliamentary debate, Kumar's remark was condemned by the women leaders, one of whom said, "When we came to the assembly, we looked up to Ramesh Kumar for his parliamentary acumen. But it looks like he has no respect for women." Another women politician noted, "A woman who faces sexual assault suffers trauma all her life. It is wrong to use this as an analogy for something else."
Kumar has an infamous track record of making problematic comments and even unsolicited rape jokes. In 2019, he compared the cumbersome parliamentary procedure to rape. "I got raped once. But like every rape victim, I am being made to feel like I was raped multiple times," he had said at the time.
While speaker Kageri laughed at the 'joke' himself, he later said, "We all respect women and we strive to ensure that the respect for the woman is not diluted," as a saving grace. However, he has also faced criticism for saying that the comment should not stir controversy. "I don't think there is need to raise the issue and create a controversy," he said.
