British home secretary under fire for making joke about date rape drug
London, Dec 24: British Home Secretary James Cleverly was under fire Sunday for joking about date rape just hours after announcing plans to crack down on what he had dubbed a "perverse" offence.
Cleverly, who oversees national security and law enforcement in England and Wales, faced a call to step down after he reportedly joked at an event at the prime minister's home about drugging his wife.
He told women guests at a Dec 18 reception that the secret to a long marriage was having a spouse who "is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there," the Sunday Mirror newspaper reported.
Cleverly said "a little bit of Rohypnol" the so-called date rape drug "in her drink every night" was "not really illegal if it's only a little bit".
The drug, colloquially known as a roofie when it is crushed and put into someone's beverage without their knowledge, makes the subject drowsy and can lead to unconsciousness and memory loss.
Cleverly apologised through a spokesperson for what he called an "ironic joke" after he had announced the Conservative government planned to update legislation to make clear that such drink spiking is illegal. He described the practice as a "perverse" crime.
The comments were made during a drinks reception at 10 Downing Street where political journalists mingled with political aides, ministers and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Conversations at such events are typically off the record, but the Sunday Mirror said it decided to report the news because of Cleverly's position and the subject matter.
"In what was always understood as a private conversation, James, the home secretary tackling spiking, made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke for which he apologizes," his spokesperson said.
Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the women's rights group the Fawcett Society said the remarks were "sickening," and she called on Cleverly to resign.
"How can we trust him to seriously address violence against women and girls?" Olchawski said in a statement. "It's sickening that the senior minister in charge of keeping women safe thinks that something as terrifying as drugging women is a laughing matter."
Cleverly, 54, who met his wife in college and has two children, previously described tackling violence against women and girls as a personal priority.
Senior members of the opposition Labour Party condemned the "appalling" comments.
"It is truly unbelievable that the home secretary made such appalling jokes on the very same day the government announced new policy on spiking," Yvette Cooper, a Labour member of Parliament, said. "Victims will understandably be questioning if they can trust him to take this vile crime seriously."
The government has pledged to clarify that drink spiking is a crime while stopping short of making it a specific offence.
Police in England and Wales receive an average of 561 reports of spiking a month, mainly by women who report incidents at bars and nightclubs, according to a Home Office report.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
