Woman Cong leader accuses Mamkootathil of misconduct, criticises party for ignoring complaints
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): A female Congress leader on Wednesday alleged that suspended party MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is under investigation in a rape case, had sent her inappropriate messages a few years ago, and that based on this experience, she had opposed his appointment as the state Youth Congress president.
She also claimed that the then Youth Congress president, Shafi Parambil, did not give any weight to her concerns.
Talking to the media, M A Shahanas, a leader of the Congress' cultural and literary wing, alleged that Mamkootathil had sent her an inappropriate message after she returned from the farmers' protest in Delhi.
Earlier, in a Facebook post, Shahanas referred to the second rape complaint against Mamkootathil on Tuesday and said she had spoken out at the time when it was needed.
"When Rahul Mamkootathil was being elevated and made Youth Congress president, I told the then Youth Congress president, Shafi Parambil (I have proof). The Youth Congress is considered a space where many young women can enter and grow. But when people like him come in as president, our girls will end up being exploited," she wrote on Facebook.
"I had requested that if our girls are to have a safe environment to work within the Indian National Congress, people like him should not be made president. Not only was my request ignored, but it was also met with outright mockery and ridicule from Parambil," she added.
Parambil, who is also a Lok Sabha MP and KPCC vice-president, has not responded to her allegations.
Later, speaking to reporters, Shahanas reiterated her experience with Mamkootathil and said she had informed Parambil at the time about his misconduct.
"Do you feel that Rahul Mamkootathil has not misbehaved with other women in the Congress? There are many people who have had bad experiences. I am responding now because there should be a situation where they can openly speak about it," she said.
Mamkootathil has been absconding for the past few days after police registered a case of sexual assault and forced abortion against him, based on a complaint submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last week by a woman.
On Tuesday, another woman, residing outside Kerala, sent a complaint to the party high command and KPCC, alleging rape by Mamkootathil.
He was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25.
Mamkootathil had earlier resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of misbehaviour, prompting protests by the BJP and the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M).
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person also levelled allegations against him.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
