An anonymous Twitter user (named Believeinkarma – @karmayogi_06) claiming to be a Kalakshetra alumni who apparently spent seven years at the institution has stated that The News Minute’s statements in their video titled “Kalakshetra sexual harassments case – Let me explain by Anna Issac” are full of lies and malicious propaganda. The handle called The News Minute as fake news portal.
The News Minute published a video describing the Kalakshetra case on April 8th. In what appears to be a smear campaign against the institute, TNM levelled numerous unsubstantiated charges against Kalakshetra to make it appear like the entire administration of Kalakshetra is filled with sexual abusers and their saviors, and that students have no one to complain to about the harrassment.
A former student who did not want to reveal his/her identity exposed the TNM’s malicious lies in their video against Kalakshetra.
In the video, TNM said, “Care Spaces, an NGO that works to ensure safe working conditions and provides support to survivors, created a listening space for students, faculty, alumni, and others to speak about the allegations. Care Spaces said that they received over a 100 narrative that reveal frustrations and fear towards institutions decision makers due to their open support of the alleged abusers.”
Responding to TNM’s allegation, the handle Believeinkarma stated that the CareSpace, which TNM quotes in the video, has a vested interest because it is run by Janani Ramesh, best friend of Indu Nidheesh, another dancer in Kalakshetra who are alleged to be behind instigating the students in order to move up the power ladder within Kalakshetra.
It is worth mentioning that the ‘power play’ angle on the Kalakshetra protest was provided by dancer Hari Padman and his wife during a police interrogation. Hari Padman said during police investigation “Among professors in Kalakshetra, there is not only competition with respect to work but also for power. Some are ready to do anything to become the Director. I am of the opinion that this power play has resulted in these complaints. Many students have been manipulated into giving this complaint.”
This accusation of the handle Beliveinkarma on TNM simply lends seems to lend credence to the dancer Hari Padman’s statement.
TNM claimed in their video claimed that an autorium meeting was held in January 2023, during which Kalakshetra director Revathi Ramachandran asked students to speak out about sexual harassment charges against professors. TNM went on to say that students were unable to speak up as the alleged abuser, Hari Padman, was also present at the meeting.
However, Believeinkarma handle said that there was no auditorium meeting in January to discuss the sexual harassment issue, as alleged by TNM, but rather an annual POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) conference led by lawyer BS Ajeetha. “It was Nirmala and others who humiliated a student and a teacher with their disgusting queries,” the handle continued. (From the tweet it is inferred that the gang opposite to Hari Padman was the one who humiliated the students during the January conference.)
Insiders say that the core issue is of three teachers namely – Nirmala Nagarajan, Nandini Nagarajan and Indhu Nideesh – who harbour professional rivalry against Haripadman. A majority of the students who are aware of the drama have refused to come out and have chosen to remain silent fearing reprisal from the other side.
As the internal committee, which included even the leftist lawyer Ajeetha, found no evidence of sexual harassment, the internal committee concluded that the allegation was without merit. It is important to mention that there was no formal complaint before the internal committee, and the committee was enquiring based on rumours in the campus.
As the committee found no merit in the charges, the Kalakshetra foundation imposed a gag order, warning those who spread rumors in campus with legal consequences. When the gag order was intended to discourage rumors, TNM portrayed it as an attempt to silence the victims. Questioning this propaganda of TNM , the Beliveinkarma handle asked, “What’s wrong with the Director asking people to stop gossiping? Nirmala Nagarajan, Nandini Nagaraj, Indu Nideesh, and Rekha Menon are the main gossips in Kalakshetra.”
TNM also said that the PoSH had refused to take complaints of male students as the PoSH is gender specific. They added that this drawback is a lacuna in PoSH law, and that the institution should have taken up the complaint of male students under a general grievances redressal mechanism.
“This raises two logical questions: who ought to amend the PoSH law if there is a lacuna, the government or Kalakshetra, and why is TNM portraying a flaw in the law as Kalakshetra’s fault?”, asked a lawyer closely following the case.
TNM also accused Kalakshetra of trying to silence voices and shielding the accused as the director of the institute Revathi Ramachandran was also heading the internal committee. Why is this wrong, asked the Twitter handle Believeinkarma, given that the law does not prohibit a director from heading on an internal committee under the PoSH law. The handle asked, “Why should the director not head the IC? There are no complaints of sexual harrasment against the director. So what is the problem?”
The handle also questioned the TNM’s claim that there is no safe space on campus for students, saying, “No safe space for students? They spend all of their time protesting and isolating Haripadman’s supporters. They’re free to roam while Haripadman’s wife awaits her husband’s return.”
The handle also added that those three dancers were summarily been dismissed were not entitled to a hearing or enquiry. “Is this what you call justice?” Beliveinkarma questioned.
Beliveinkarma concluded by saying, “you(TNM) are a FAKE NEWS portal & despite your venom, truth will triumph.”
@thenewsminute
let me explain why you're a fake news portal. pic.twitter.com/j3FZViKB78— Believeinkarma (@karmayogi_06) April 9, 2023
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