After senior Karnataka Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar made a crude remark about rape in the state legislature, his party distanced itself from the remark, calling it “insensitive banter”. The party does not approve of the highly unacceptable and callous banter between the Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Ramesh Kumar, said party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala. “Speaker as custodian and senior legislators are expected to be role models and should desist from such unacceptable behaviour,” Surjewala said.

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When Speaker Vishweshwara Hedge Kageri showed helplessness after all MLAs demanded time to speak about the damage their constituency had sustained due to the rain, the Congress MLA made the remark. “I have to enjoy the situation and say ‘yes, yes’. I should give up trying to control the situation and conduct the proceedings in a systematic manner,” the Speaker said. The Congress MLA made the vile remark in this setting, as he indicated, “See, there is a saying — When rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That’s exactly the position you are in.”

In response to the criticism, the Congress MLA tweeted that it was an off-the-cuff statement and that he had no intention of trivilizing rape. He apologised on Twitter and stated that he will select his words carefully. Ramesh Kumar, however, when pressed for an apology in the Assembly where the remark was uttered, responded, “If it hurts the sentiments of women, I’ve no problem apologising. I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Speaker VH Kageri said since he has apologised, there is no need to drag it further, news agency ANI reported.