Belgaum | Saba Khan: Karnataka Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar apologised in Assembly on Friday for his “enjoy rape” remark. Former Karnataka Assembly speaker and senior Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar on Friday apologised in the Assembly for his controversial comment by saying “If it hurts the sentiments of women I have no problem in apologizing. I apologise from the bottom of my heart”. Speaker Mr Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri responded to his apology by saying ‘The MLA has apologised and let’s not drag it further’.

Earlier on Thursday Ramesh Kumar stirred a controversy in the Assembly by saying “when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it”. His insensitive remark came when MLA’s were seeking more time from speaker Mr Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri to discuss the issue of crop loss due to untimely rain. This was not his first to say something about rape earlier too when he was a speaker of Assembly he compared himself to a rape survivor by saying jokingly about a rape incident which happened in Mysuru accusing Congress of politicising the issue by saying “Rape has occurred there(Mysuru) but Congress is trying to rape the Home minister here”.

However Ramesh Kumar has also tweeted an apology for his statement “I would like to express my sincere apologise to everyone for the indifferent and negligent comment I made in today’s assembly about “Rape!” my intention was not to trivialise or make light of the henious crime, but an off the cuff remark! I will choose my words carefully henceforth” he tweeted.

Women MLA unimpressed, asks entire Assembly to apologise

Speaking against the hushing away of Matter by teh speaker, Congress MLA Anjali Nimbalkar angrily asked whether the house members who laughed too apologized?? writing on twitter she wrote “But did the house apologize. What about the speaker & other members that were present & laughing. Don’t drag the issue is that it. Women legislatures were not given a chance to speak at all… Each & every member of the house should apologise.”.

Khanapur Congress MLA  also tweeted, “The House shall apologise to entire womanhood, every mother, sister & daughter of this nation for such an obnoxious & shameless behaviour (SIC).”