Agencies
Journalists in Tamil Nadu have written a letter to Governor Banwarilal Purohit demanding a formal apology after he triggered a controversy by patting a senior woman journalist on her cheek without her consent.
"Mr Governor, we, the journalists of Tamil Nadu, demand that you offer an unconditional apology to the journalist in question and also assure all journalists of Tamil Nadu that you will not violate their rights in the future," the letter read.
In a press conference called on Tuesday evening, Purohit was speaking to reporters about recent allegations that a college professor tried to convince female students to take academic and financial assistance from Madurai Kamaraj University officials in exchange for sexual favours.
The pat came moments after he dismissed a barrage of questions about allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
"I asked TN Governor Banwarlilal Purohit a question as his press conference was ending. He decided to patronisingly and without consent pat me on the cheek as a reply," tweeted Lakshmi Subramanian, the journalist who was patted by Purohit.
Drawing the Governor's attention to Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, journalists wrote,"We would like to draw your attention to Section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998, which defines harassment.
Additionally, the journalists urged the Governor to read Section 4 of the same act, mentioning details in the letter.
"Whoever commits or participates or abets harassment of women in or within the precincts of any educational institution, temple or place of worship, bus stop, road, railway station, cinema theatre, park, beach, place of festival, public service vehicle or vessel or any other place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with a fine, which shall not be less than Rs.10, 000," the act reads.
Demanding an unconditional apology from Purohit, the journalists said the offence committed by him is a cognisable and non-bailable. They have also demanded an assurance that he will not repeat this in future. |
