Decision on PoSH panel to address sexual harassment complaints deferred, says filmmaker Lankesh
Bengaluru: The decision taken by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to form a PoSH committee headed by her to address sexual harassment complaints has been deferred, said filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh on Tuesday.
KFCC had constituted a 10-member Complaints Internal Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act on December 1, Lankesh told PTI.
Incidentally, Lankesh is the president of Film Industry for Rights and Equality , an organisation that fights for women's rights and against abuse in the Kannada film industry.
FIRE has been pushing KFCC to form a committee on the lines of Justice Hema Committee that has encouraged many women to come out with their complaints against sexual predators in the Malayalam film industry.
"We had a meeting, and it was decided that I would be heading the committee," added Lankesh.
But now she has been informed that the decision has been deferred pending the election of new office-bearers, she said.
"I have been told that KFCC will convene a meeting post the election on December 15 and will decide on the committee on December 16. But people I know have told me that there was stiff opposition among some of the KFCC members for appointing me as the head of the committee," said Lankesh.
Actors Pramila Joshi and Sruthi Hariharan were also part of the committee, she said. Others included Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum state coordinator Mallu Kumbar, women's rights activist Vimala K S, journalist Muralidhar Khajane, producer Sa Ra Govinda, playwright Shashikany Yadahalli and lawyer Rajalaxmi Ankalagi as well as KFCC president N M Suresh.
Suresh also confirmed to PTI that the decision had been deferred.
"I do not have the right to sign this order now as I am leaving the office. Since elections are underway, we decided to wait for the new office-bearers to take charge and then issue the formal order," said Suresh, refuting allegations that KFCC members are objecting to Lankesh being appointed as head.
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Iran warns of ‘uncontrollable consequences’ after energy site strike
Qatar warns residents of ‘Elavated’ threat
Tehran/Doha: Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian has warned that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure could lead to “uncontrollable consequences” affecting the entire world.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he “strongly condemns” the strikes that targeted the South Pars gasfield earlier in the day.
“Such aggressive actions will not achieve anything for the American Zionist enemy and their supporters. Rather, they will complicate the situation and could lead to uncontrollable consequences that will affect the entire world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has urged residents to remain indoors due to what it described as an elevated security threat.
Authorities have not provided further details, but the advisory comes amid growing concerns over the safety of energy infrastructure and civilian areas in the region.
