Suresh Gopi, the Malayalam actor and BJP politician, has become embroiled in controversy following accusations of inappropriate behavior towards a woman journalist during a media interaction in Kozhikode, Kerala. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) is taking a stand against this, potentially pursuing legal action.
A video of the incident has circulated on social media, revealing Gopi placing his left hand on the woman journalist's shoulder while she posed a question. Despite her stepping back, Gopi's hand lingered on her shoulder before he eventually withdrew it. However, moments later, he repeated the action, prompting the journalist to remove his hand from her shoulder.
The journalist had questioned Gopi about the BJP's inability to secure a single seat in the Kerala Lok Sabha elections. Gopi responded by saying, "Let me give it a try, dear. Let us wait," while placing his hand on her shoulder.
The KUWJ is now demanding an apology from the actor-politician and is contemplating lodging a complaint with the Women's Commission. They have also mentioned that they will explore other suitable legal actions.
Subsequently, Gopi issued an apology on his Facebook page, emphasizing that he had "treated the woman journalist with affection in front of the media." He expressed that he has never acted inappropriately in public or private. He respected the woman journalist's feelings about the incident and extended his apologies if she had felt uncomfortable or emotionally distressed. His post was written in Malayalam.
Suresh Gopi, a former Rajya Sabha MP, is expected to contest from the Thrissur constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP holds high hopes for this seat. Although Gopi had previously contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections from Thrissur, he did not secure victory on either occasion. Consequently, he has been working towards a successful BJP campaign in Thrissur in the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
