The National Commission for Women said on Wednesday Bollywood actor Salman Khan had not apologised for saying his training schedule for an upcoming film left him feeling “like a raped woman”, adding that the body was studying a reply sent by Khan’s lawyer.
“Salman Khan’s legal counsel has written to us. All I can say at the moment after going through the letter is that it is not conciliatory. He (Salman) has not apologised. It’s a four-page, very legal sounding explanation that he has given,” NCW chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam told Hindustan Times.
Read: Knowing me, I shouldn’t talk much: Salman Khan post ‘raped woman’ comment
“Our legal officer is going through the letter. We will decide on what action to take based on the legal officer’s advice. But one thing is very clear. We are taking the whole issue very seriously,” she added.
Khan made the controversial comment in an interview to promote his latest Bollywood movie “Sultan”, which tells the story of an ageing wrestler trying to make a comeback.
“When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn’t walk straight,” 50-year-old said in the interview with Spotboye.com.
{{/usCountry}}“When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn’t walk straight,” 50-year-old said in the interview with Spotboye.com.
{{/usCountry}}Read: Dear Salman Khan, how do you expect fans to defend you?
On Wednesday, Kumaramangalam said there has to be deterrence in the form of stringent action so that public figures think twice before making loose comment on women. “I believe that some kind of a stringent action is required to send the message that people, especially those in public life, can’t get away easily after making such comments.”
The NCW chairperson also slammed “Bollywood activists” for being silent over the issue. “Such Bollywood activists have a view on everything but strangely no one has come out in the open to condone what Salman Khan has said.”
The NCW had demanded a public apology, calling the comments “reprehensible”, following an outcry on social media where the hashtag #InsensitiveSalman has been trending.