Dev, Bengali actor turned politician

For joking about rape

West Bengal topped the charts for crimes against women last year but that did not deter Trinamool Congress candidate Dipak Adhikari from making a ridiculously insensitive remark comparing the election frenzy to being raped. The popular actor- turned politician is contesting the elections from West Midnapore district of West Bengal and made the statement during an interview to Ebala, a Bengali tabloid. When asked by the tabloid whether he was enjoying his moment of political attention, he was quoted as saying, “Enjoy… it is like being raped here, either you can enjoy it or shout.” Following a political furore, Adhikari—or Dev, as he is popularly known—apologised on Twitter stating that he meant ‘no offence’. Several women’s groups have put pressure on the Election Commission to issue a notice to Dev. A statement by the National Federation of Indian Woman asserted that ‘the EC should not accept Dev’s candidature so that it will be the beginning of the end of all such sexist and anti-women comments by members of political parties.’

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