New Delhi, April 24: After Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan tried to justify casting couch terming it as a sexual favour for work earlier today, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary said that it is quite common everywhere. Chowdhary said that casting couch happens not only in the film industry but at other workplaces too. She said neither is the Parliament immune to it. The Congress MP said, "It is not just in the film industry. It happens everywhere and it is the bitter truth. Don't imagine that Parliament is immune or other workplaces are immune to it."

Calling it a "bitter truth", Chowdhary said that India should also show its resilience to such acts joining the #MeToo movement which gained momentum worldwide. She said, "It is time that India stood up and said #MeToo."

At a press conference held in Mumbai on Tuesday, Khan described casting couch as "age-old" and asked, "why the entertainment industry alone should be targeted". Saroj Khan through her controversial statement tried to justify how nobody was getting raped but were receiving works for sexual favours. However, following the backlash, she apologised, but the damage was already caused.

At the event, Khan said, "Can I tell you one thing? This has been going on since the beginning of time. It hasn't started now. Someone or the other tries to take advantage of every other girl. The government's people do it too. Then why are you after the film industry? It provides livelihood at lead. Does not rape and leave you. It depends on the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall into wrong hands, you won't. If you have art, then why would you sell yourself? Don't take film industry's name, it is everything for us."

The 69-year-old choreographer made the remarks in response to a question on Telugu actor Sri Reddy stripping in protest against the casting couch culture in the Telugu film industry. The video of her statement went viral on social media attracting negative reaction and criticisms for showcasing casting couch as an accepted behaviour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2018 02:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).