Actor-turned-BJP politician S.Ve. Shekher has stoked a controversy by sharing a social media post containing derogatory remarks about the media and in particular against women scribes, drawing the ire of journalists. He subsequently apologised for sharing the post “without reading” the content.
His shared Facebook post, reportedly put out on Thursday but later found removed, makes insinuations against the media and women journalists in light of the row involving Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit.
The 78-year-old Governor had patted on the cheek of a woman journalist earlier this week during the conclusion of a press meet in Chennai, apparently to diplomatically avoid queries posed by her.
The incident had triggered a furore with political parties, including the opposition DMK, calling for his removal as Tamil Nadu governor. Mr. Purohit later apologised to the woman scribe.
Mr. Shekher’s shared post also had some caustic references to the woman scribe whose cheek the Governor patted.
These drew instant condemnation, with a number of individual journalists lashing out at his post, which was later found removed.
The Chennai Union of Journalists criticised Mr. Shekher for the post, with many journalists also taking to Twitter and Facebook to condemn him.
Apology
On Friday, Mr. Shekher tendered an apology, saying he had forwarded a friend’s post ““without reading the content," and by mistake. He also said his act was "unintentional”.
“When it was pointed out by a friend that the content was abusive, it was removed immediately,” he said in a statement.
“I come from a family that respects women and women journalists. If I had hurt anyone in the very few minutes of (sharing) that post... it was not on purpose and (I express) my heartfelt apologies,” he said.
Mr. Shekher, however, said he was “surprised” to find some people circulated the screenshots of the post without finding them offensive.
Meanwhile, a police complaint has been filed against Mr. Shekher.
