(S.R.Seshu)

Launching a powerful punch right on the nose of actor Salman Khan for his rape analogy, an Hyderabad-based NGO Prajwala’s co-founder and anti-trafficking crusader Dr.Sunitha Krishnan, a Padma Shri awardee, shot off a fiery letter on Wednesday.

Dr.Sunitha, who rescued scores of women from trafficking, didn’t even like to mention the actor’s name in her letter. She alleged that the actor is ‘trivialising rape and rape culture” by making such a comment. (Read: Salman rapped for rape anology).

“I do not wish to take the name of the person in question because I feel it would be an act of giving him too much respect. The fact that he could easily compare himself to being raped shows how badly he has trivialised rape and rape culture. The harsh truth is that good looks and some talent made him the star that he is and he takes this role very lightly,” She said.

Dr.Sunitha rightly observed that ‘with such fame comes responsibility’ and expressed her anguish over using the word ‘rape’ loosely in daily conversations. She adds: “Instead of being aware of this, he has basically compared the scars, trauma and abuse of a rape victim to his role in a movie. I keep hearing men and women making such remarks and recently too, I found a woman who made a joke along these lines. She used to say ‘I was raped by this’ or ‘I was raped by that’ with no thought on the repercussions of these statements.”

Without mincing any words, Dr.Sunitha said that the actor “is a disgrace.”

“What we need to remember is rape culture is around us and all of these trivialising remarks add to it. As far as I can say, only perverts can make such statements. He is a disgrace,” She concluded.