Disappointed By Kerala Govt For Sitting on Justice Hema Committee Report, Says Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed disappointment over the way the Kerala government sat on the Justice Hema Committee report that spoke of the horrors that actresses and women employees of the Malayalam film industry had to face. In an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, Tharoor said he was shocked how a minister said the women didn’t complain to the government but to the committee.

“Male artists, actors, directors, males who call the shots (which is clearly established) on the sets have some responsibility. We had been hearing some rumours about the casting couch too in various film industries across the world and certainly across India but the women of Kerala had the courage to demand an enquiry,” Tharoor said.

Hitting out at the Kerala government, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said, “I am very disappointed by the state government for sitting on the report which was submitted in 2019 by all women committee that wrote the report including Justice Hema. They did a very thorough job. They had put 69 pages with names of accusers and the accused. I am glad that a court has taken a note and asked police to file suo moto FIRs.”

“I was shocked when I came to know that a minister excused saying that women did not complained to the government but it was to a committee appointed by the government and it should have been taken seriously. I am sorry that five years were lost and the government did not taken any action. Finally it’s out in the open,” Tharoor added.

When asked about demands for the resignation of CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, who is facing rape and sexual assault allegations, Tharoor said those named must ake moral responsibility, adding they may fight in court if they were not guilty.

“Those who had positions in AMMA, have resigned. Others also have to take moral responsibility. When an individual who did not have an authority in the system has been charged, he has every right to defend himself if he does not admit the charge. Many in my party are also asking for his resignation but he has the right to stand in court and try and clear his name. But the process should start now,” Tharoor said.

‘Must Stop Patriarchal Questions’

Speaking on the issue of the safety of women, Tharoor said that while laws need to be implemented, the society also needed to change. “We need to do some fundamental root and branch enquiry into ourselves as a society. When I was a minister, I insisted on a general sensitivity training for our boys at a very young age (like 6 years) so that they understand the importance of respecting women. Try and make sure that at every stage, we have institutional arrangements to protect women’s interests – whether it’s having separate toilets, in hospitals or having separate rest areas,” Tharoor said.

He added that the society needed to stop victim blaming and have more patrolling and security. “We have to stop these patriarchal questions like why she was there, why was she on that street, we need to have police patrolling. Our women have the right to pursue their dreams and lives while feeling safe. This is a basic human right and we must fight for it,” the Congress MP said.

Justice Hema Committee Report

The report of the three-member Justice Hema Committee, formed in 2017, was released on August 19, 2024. The report highlights persistence of practices like the casting couch in the Malayalam film industry, where women are often pressured into offering sexual favours to secure roles or avoid being blacklisted.

Following the release of the report, several women in the Kerala film industry have spoken out and big names including MLA Mukesh, actor Siddiqui, Jayasurya, director Ranjith among others have been accused of sexual misconduct.