BENGALURU: Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha is once again in the eye of a storm. A video has emerged in which he is allegedly seen to make derogatory comments against Prabha Belavangala, activist and member of State-level Expert Committee on Prevention of Atrocities Against Women.
The video went viral shortly after he filed a complaint with Bengaluru police commissioner against Belavangala for her Facebook post which depicted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in poor light. Belavangala has also filed a complaint against Simha after meeting police commissioner Praveen Sood .
In the video, which was shot by a local news channel during his interaction with the media in Mysuru, Simha allegedly says he will file a 100 complaints against Belavangala. The 53-second video clip also shows the MP make suggestive remarks against the activist, by referring to the sex scandal that ousted former Congress minister H Y Meti.
In the video, Simha allegedly says, “I think she has considerable curiosity ove
r what happens in the antechambers of politicians. Therefore, she has handpicked such videos and used it to insult others. If she has such fantasies, it is not necessary for her to go to Uttar Pradesh.
If she visits Bagalkote, she can see what is happening in Meti’s antechamber. Rather than satisfying her twisted mind by watching such videos, she can watch it live. If I have to say it in her language, she can experience it on her own at Meti’s office.”
Women activists have condemned the MP’s remarks. Activist and writer Leela Sampige said that though Belavangala shared the post on the UP CM, she removed it soon after she learnt that it was fake. “Now, they have decided to file 100 complaints, or they can file a 1,000. But what is the excuse for a MP to use such filthy language against a woman?” she asked, adding women across the state should condemn the remarks.
Vimala K S of Janawadi Mahila Sangatane said, “If Prabha has done something wrong there is legal way to address it and also a constitutional way to criticise the same. But using such insensitive words against a woman is in bad taste. We never expected such remarks from an MP.”
V S Ugrappa, chairperson of the said Expert Committee, said the remarks made by the MP were “most unfortunate” and “unbecoming of an MP”.