Audiogate: Speaker likens himself to a rape survivor

Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, who has been charged of accepting a “Rs 50 crore” bribe, on Tuesday, likened himself to a rape survivor.

Kumar, who allowed for a debate on the audiogate surrounding him for the second day in a row, made such a remark when the opposition BJP charged that it was Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy who had “dragged” his (Speaker) name into the controversy.

BJP MLA Jagadish Shettar said that Kumaraswamy, to gain political leverage had “dragged to the streets” the Speaker’s name on the charge that he had been booked.

Interjecting, Kumar said, “This is like a rape victim’s story. I got raped once (when the allegation was made). But like every rape victim, I am being made to feel like I was raped multiple times. Like a victim who files police complaint and is subjected question in court. This is how I feel now, regardless of who dragged me to the streets, I have come to the streets,” he said.

BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa quipped by saying that Kumaraswamy was responsible for the Speaker to feel like he is being raped multiple times. "In your case, Sharangouda (Gurmitkal MLA’s son) raped you once, and CM through his press conference raped you multiple times,”

To this, Kumar said, “I am subjected to (rape) from both sides,” he said referring to both the ruling and the opposition parties.

Interestingly, no member of the House raised objection to the Speaker’s comments. Instead, they cheered him on with laughter even as all the seven women legislators were present in the House.