Trigger Warning: The following article contains details about sexual assault and violence. The details may be traumatic for survivors. Reader discretion is advised.
Singer Kailash Kher, accused of sexual harassment by several women, performed at Delhi government’s Mayur Utsav event on Sunday evening, 16 December, midst protests.
According to Times of India, a protest was staged by Delhi Congress outside the venue, alleging that the AAP government had shown their disrespect for women by celebrating on Nirbhaya’s sixth anniversary.
“Six years ago, a young girl was brutalised in Delhi. Instead of sending a message to the people of Delhi that the government cares about their safety and security and organising programmes to remember the brave girl, they are celebrating,” said ex-MLA Anil Kumar Chaudhary.
Singer Sona Mohapatra, who had accused Kailash Kher of inappropriate behaviour, had earlier demanded the "Teri Deewani" singer's withdrawal from Delhi government’s Mayur Utsav. She has now tweeted condemning the performance, saying that Kejriwal should drop the pretense of “caring for either Nirbhaya or the safety of women”.
Mohapatra had started a change.org petition #WhyKailashKher, to garner support.
"I am shocked to learn that Kailash Kher has been asked to headline a performance at the Delhi Government's Mayur Utsav that begins today," she penned in the petition. Sona urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to cancel Kailash's participation, thereby extending support to the #MeToo movement.
In a tweet, she wrote: "Dear Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal, multiple women including minors have come out in the public with their #MeToo stories against this predator Kailash Kher and you choose to rub this kind of insult to injury? Do you care so little for 50 per cent of your population?"
In an email interview to IANS, Kailash Kher had said it would be nostalgic and emotional for him to sing for his people on his "homeground" of Delhi's Mayur Vihar, which he calls the land of his elders.
Sona Mohapatra has accused Kailash Kher of sexual misconduct on multiple occasions. She described these incidents in a series of tweets posted in October. On one occasion, she alleged that Kher put his hand on her thigh saying, “lines like, your (sic) so beautiful, feel so good that a ‘musician got you’ [her partner composer Ram Sampath] not an actor.”
She also mentioned an incident when Kher reportedly kept trying to get in touch with her when the two were both in Dhaka for a performance. According to her he asked her to “skip the soundcheck and join him in his room instead to ‘catch up’”.
(With inputs from IANS, Times of India)
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