Guwahati: The National Commission for Women (NCW) will soon summon Bollywood actor Salman Khan in connection with his recent alleged sexist and controversial remarks.
NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said here on Monday that the actor had failed to respond to the notice served to him by the Commission. The contention that Khan was abroad was not sufficient reason for him not to respond to the notice, she said.
Ms Kumaramangalam said, “Summon to appear before the NCW would be served to the actor soon. We have taken the matter very seriously.”
During a film promotion, Khan had reportedly stated that intense wrestling scenes made him feel like a raped woman, leading to a backlash from various quarters.
Meanwhile, the NCW chairperson also alleged that there had been a breakdown of law and order in Bihar. Referring to the recent cases of atrocities on women in Bihar, she said, “These are horrendous crimes. Police have in each case mysteriously lost one document or the other.”
She maintained that there was a lack of political will to deal with such crimes and said she would meet the Union Home Minister and raise the matter with him.
Problems faced by women owing to customary laws in vogue and unique social-geographical-economic situation of Northeast came up for detailed discussion during a day-long regional consultation on Draft National Policy for Women 2016 here.
Monday’s meet was the last of five consultations held across the country.
The NCW chairperson said most of the suggestions were about strategy and policy. She said the issue of gender budgeting and skill development as per the need of the area was raised. The issue of ownership of agricultural assets was an important aspect raised at the meet, the NCW chief said. “Witch hunting, trafficking, lack of property rights, practice of customary laws with no written format hindered women’s rights,” the participants pointed out during the consultation. In addition to these, lack of proper sanitation facilities, stricter monitoring of Right to Education, attention to disabled and ageing women, need for more short stay homes were issues raised during the meet. All the issues raised on Monday’s meeting would be incorporated in the draft policy document.
