#MeToo: After Sajid Khan Gets Suspended, IFTDA to Look Take Stern Action Against Alok Nath
The next case IFTDA will take up is that of Alok Nath and Vinta Nanda's.
It was reported yesterday that Bollywood director Sajid Khan been suspended for one year by Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) over the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by several women following an investigation. IFTDA said acting on the recommendations of the Internal Complaints Committee's (ICC), it has suspended Sajid's membership for a period of one year with immediate effect, which will be reviewed after a year, the organisation said in a statement. Three women, including a journalist and two actors, have accused Sajid of sexual harassment. And now, the next case IFTDA will take up is that of Alok Nath and Vinta Nanda's. #MeToo Movement: Sajid Khan Gets 1 Year Suspension From the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association.
"We have gone into the depth of the matter here. Next on our agenda is Vinta Nanda's case against Alok Nath. We will move to it in the next five days, and ensure a speedy trial on the matter," mid-day quoted Ashok Pandit, the president of IFTDA. Pandit has set up an Internal Complaints' Committee (ICC) in keeping with the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace) guidelines to look into Khan's case.
In an interview with a section of media, Ashok Pandit commented on the safety of men and women in the film industry saying, "The reason we have set up a committee is to assure women and men that there is an avenue, which is gender neutral, for seeking redressal if they have been wronged by someone. "By suspending Sajid for a year, we have only tried to put forth a word that there is redressal as long as you have the courage to speak up and bring out the complete truth, better late than never," he added.
Pandit believes the increasing awareness about the POSH Act guidelines and the #MeTooIndia Movement have encouraged women to speak up. "It has given them the confidence to speak against sexual harassment. A complainant, who shows courage to speak against unwelcome behaviour regardless of who is the perpetrator, is not merely an object of pity or sympathy, but a survivor setting the world on fire with her truth. Now, it's our duty to uproot such unwelcome behaviour around us," he added.
-With inputs from PTI
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 13, 2018 09:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).