Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 6: In response to the outrage expressed by the public against the alleged moral policing of Kannada actor Samyukta Hegde, lake activist and state Congress member Kavitha Reddy has issued a statement. Kavitha admitted feeling a sense of regret for losing her temper but maintained that she did not moral police the actress and claimed she had only intervened as the three friends had played loud music at the park, a report by The News Minute (TNM) stated.
The incident happened at a public park near the Agara lake in Bengaluru where the actor and her two friends had gone to practice with hula hoops. Objecting to the workout clothes or sports bra that Samyukta was wearing, Kavitha and others asked them to leave the park. The situation took a nasty turn when Kavitha charged at one of the women and later brought in the police.
Samyukta (L) and Kavitha Reddy
"I was called by walkers and the guard at Agara Lake saying that some 3 girls have been playing music and dancing and there are complaints daily why it is allowed in the park when no other park allows. When the guard called there was already shouting and screaming going on. I went and met Samyukta and 2 of her friends," the statement said.
"I called the two guards and asked Samyukta and two of her friends to apologize to them as they have abused and shouted at them for doing their job. Samyukta and two of her friends told me that the guards also made some remarks, I told her that all the three will apologize and he will also apologize for his mistake," the activist added.
"It is ridiculous to say that I was doing some moral policing when the fact remains that I go for a walk wearing shorts and many who come to Agara Lake wear what they want without any dress code or restrictions," Kavitha maintained.
Further, clarifying her stance Kavitha said that she tried to call the police and simultaneously recorded a video and when Samyukta's friends of called her 'Bloody b****' was when Kavitha charged at her.
In the statement, Kavitha keeps insisting that she never commented on Samyukta's attire and questioned why the actor took off her pullover during her live video.
"She herself took off her top and started a live video which was definitely objected by the public and even police who were a bit confused how to act in that situation," she said
It must be noted here that Samyukta did not remove her pullover at the beginning of the video, she only does it when Kavitha Reddy tells the police that the actor should be booked for indecent behaviour in public. It is then that an emotional Samyukta removes her pullover and shows her workout clothes to the camera and the police asking what is wrong with her attire.
Although Kavitha claimed in her statement that she never talked about Samyukta's attire, her comments in the video where she talks about 'indecent exposure' in front of the police can be heard. This takes place even before Samyukta removes the pullover for the video. Moreover, neither Kavitha nor anyone in the crowd can be heard mentioning about the loud music to the police. Kavitha can also be heard saying the women were doing 'nanga naach', referring to Samyukta's workout attire.
Kavitha Reddy also says in her statement that her version will be corroborated by real people and not someone who 'claims to be a victim'. In Samyukta's video, however, at least three other people can be clearly heard supporting the actor and rejecting moral policing. On Twitter, she referred to Samyukta as a 'cheap publicity' actor.