BJP’s Suresh Gopi ‘Misbehaves’ With Woman Journalist in Kerala, Apologies Laternewsbhunt

Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi on Saturday issued an apology over his alleged misbehaviour with a woman journalist, who had filed a complaint against the BJP leader.

A woman journalist had filed a complaint with the Kozhikode city police commissioner against the BJP leader alleging that he outraged her modesty when she posed a question to him during a media interaction on October 27.

The incident occurred yesterday in Kozhikode Suresh Gopi was speaking to media persons.

A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, showed that when the woman reporter posed a question to Gopi, he turned to her and kept his hands on her shoulders, she was seen moving away and when he kept his hands on her shoulder the second time she removed his hand.

In a Facebook post, the BJP leader said he only showed “affection” to the media person but her feelings should be respected. “In front of the media, I behaved with affection with Shida. So far in my life, I have never misbehaved publicly or otherwise. But I believe, whatever she felt about the incident that should be respected. I apologise if she has felt bad about it. Sorry Shida,” Gopi’s post read.

BJP state president K Surendran also put out a post on social media saying “though there was no ill intention Suresh Gopi has publicly apologised to the sister who felt bad. Requesting everyone to end the controversy.”

Earlier, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of the ruling CPI (M), the Network of Women in Media, Kerala and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists had strongly condemned the BJP leader’s behaviour with the journalist.

The KUWJ had termed Gopi’s behaviour an ‘insult’ to all working women and demanded an unconditional apology from him.