'Andhra Pradesh dilly-dallying in Varma case'

Members of various women’s organisations from Andhra Pradesh on Thursday organised a roundtable demanding arrest of film-maker Ram Gopal Varma for allegedly degrading women and misleading youth by spreading porn culture.

While appreciating the Telangana police reacting in a positive manner when a complaint was lodged against him (Mr. Varma), they found fault with the Andhra Pradesh Police for dilly-dallying in filing cases under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the controversial film-maker, who allegedly described woman as a sex object.

“The A.P. Police is of the opinion that the issue belonged to Telangana as he (Mr. Varma) made the derogatory comments in Hyderabad. But his promotion of porn culture and his objectionable speech against a woman in a TV debate should be taken into considertaion and suo motu action initiated against him,” said AIDWA leader Ramadevi.

The roundtable felt that the “irresponsibility” of the film-maker towards society should be sternly dealt with as he unashamedly declared woman was a commodity.

“He should be arrested under Nibhaya Act, as he appears to be a repeat offender,” said POW leader Ganga Bhavani.

The women leaders felt that it was unfortunate that the A.P. Police was not taking action against Mr. Varma despite Vijayawada emerging as second in national crime chart.

“It is time a committee was set up to monitor the activities of media as well which is spreading disparaging views on women and promoting sleaze,” they said.

The leaders said that Beach Festival, pub, hookah culture and several frills associated with tourism promotion were spoiling the youth and exhorted Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to keep a check on the fast-spreading business module in the new State.

They said that the women organisations would intensify their agitation from March 1 by staging relay hunger strikes, and on March 8, celebrated as International Women’s Day, a massive agitation will be launched in Vijayawada against Mr. Varma.

Several NGOs, student’s organisations and people’s outfits met the women leaders and pledged their support to the agitation.