“Why delay in justice?”: JP Nadda questions Kerala government over Hema committee report

Palakkad (Kerala) [India], September 1 (ANI): Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda on Sunday questioned the Kerala government for delay in justice to the victims of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry after the Hema Committee report and alleged that Communist Party leaders are involved in the matter.

The Union Health Minister was interacting with eminent personalities from various fields in Palakkad, Kerala, on Sunday.

“Why delay in justice to the Hema Committee report? What is stopping them (the Kerala government)? What is haunting you? Because you are part and parcel of that…it is something you want to hide because your people are involved…I am very sorry to say that the Hema Committee report very specifically said that Communist party leaders are involved. The Chief Minister should come out and tell what really happened,” JP Nadda said.

Last month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts alleging harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals.

The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry.

The report of the three-member panel headed by a former judge of the Kerala High Court and set up by the state government in 2017, was submitted to the Pinrayi Vijyan-led Kerala government in December 2019, but was made public only this month.

Following the report, actor Mohanlal resigned as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report and sexual harassment allegations faced by some members of the executive committee.

On August 25, the Kerala government announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the case.