Karnataka Speaker compares himself to a rape victim

Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar.

In a gender insensitive comment, the Karnataka Speaker said on Tuesday his condition was like that of a rape victim.

“The rape happens only once. But the victim suffers more when she approaches the police and the issue comes up before courts as several embarrassing questions are posed to her in public. I’m in a similar situation now as the allegations of bribing me are being repeated,” he said. This comment was perceived as a joke by the largely male-dominated Assembly. Guffaws were heard following the Speaker’s comment.

In an audio clip released on Budget day by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, a BJP leader purportedly claimed that the Speaker had been paid ₹50 crore by his party top brass to accept the resignation of dissident ruling coalition MLAs.