NEW DELHI: BJP MP Udit Raj on Tuesday kicked up a controversy with his comments targeting the #MeToo movement in India, saying it was being used by some for blackmailing and extorting money.
The movement gained momentum after actor Tanushree Dutta alleged that she was sexually harassed on a movie set by Nana Patekar in 2008.
A number of women, including media professionals, have come forward in the last few days to narrate on social media their experiences of facing sexual harassment or sexist behaviour at workplace.
Calling the campaign a “wrong practice”, Raj questioned why such allegations were being made years later.“#MeToo movement is important, but what is the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody ten years later? How will the truth in these allegations be established after so long?” the MP from North-West Delhi asked.
“It’s worth giving a thought how such allegations will tarnish the image of the person against whom they are levelled. A wrong practice is being initiated.”He claimed that there were women “habituated to this” who tokk “`2-4 lakh” for making such allegations and then “move on to the next target”.
The MP said such allegations of harassment were being used for blackmailing. He, however, added that if someone had been exploited, then the perpetrator should be “shot”.