Woman journalist says Suresh Gopi’s ‘no intention’ does not excuse non-consensual touching

Thiruvananthapuram: The woman journalist, Shida Jagath, who experienced inappropriate behaviour from the BJP MP Suresh Gopi while getting quotes for news, affirmed her decision to take legal action against the actor-turned-BJP leader.

In a video that is widely surfaced on social media, Suresh Gopi can be seen running his hands over the journalist's shoulder during a media briefing on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, prompting her to visibly recoil.

While Gopi later took to social media to issue an apology, claiming no lewd intentions, Jagath insisted that lack of intent does not excuse non-consensual touching. In a statement, she expressed her distress over the incident, highlighting the common occurrence of such behaviour faced by women.

Gopi's Facebook post drew mixed reactions, with some supporting him and others, including the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, calling for a more explicit apology. The journalist community urged Gopi to acknowledge the gravity of the incident and issue a sincere apology. Many on social media also characterized Gopi's actions as harassment.

Jagath, in a video response, dismissed Gopi's apology as a justification rather than a genuine expression of remorse. She recounted the traumatic experience and emphasized her commitment to pursuing legal action against Gopi. The incident, according to her, reflects a broader issue of inappropriate behaviour towards women in various spheres.