Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury said no workplace in India is immune to the casting couch culture.
As veteran choreographer Saroj Khan's remarks defending the casting couch in film industry invited criticism, Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury said no workplace in India is immune to the culture.
"It is not just in the film industry. It happens everywhere and it is the bitter truth. Don't imagine that Parliament is immune or other workplaces are immune to it," the Congress leader said.
Chowdhury said it is time that India stood up and said '#MeToo', referring to the global movement when women from all walks of life have spoken up about the culture of sexual harassment.
Earlier, Saroj Khan defended the casting couch culture, saying the Indian film industry "at least" provided jobs and did not abandon women after raping them.
Khan said the casting couch was not a new phenomenon with "anyone and everyone", including people in the government, indulging in it.
"This has been happening since time immemorial. Anyone and everyone tries to get cozy with every girl. Even people in the government do it. Why are you after the film industry? At least the industry provides employment. It is not as if you are raped and abandoned.
(Yeh chala aa raha hai baba aadam ke zamaane se. Har ladki ke upar koi na koi haath saaf karne ki koshish karta hai. Government ke log bhi karte hain. Tum film industry ke peeche kyun pade ho? Woh kam se kam roti toh deti hai. Rape karke chhod toh nahi deti)," Khan said.
The 69-year-old choreographer made the remarks in response to a question from a journalist in Sangli on a Telugu stripping in protest against the casting couch culture in the Telugu film industry.
She later apologised for her remarks on a TV channel.
Last year, Hollywood spoke out against sexual misconduct after disclosures about media mogul Harvey Weinstein. The incident had a domino effect, with many questions being raised about sexual harassment and abuse at the workplace, particularly the entertainment industry.
(With PTI inputs)
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