Kerala MLA PC George regrets calling raped nun prostitute after massive outrage

KOCHI: Kerala MLA PC George, who has faced massive criticism for calling a nun who was allegedly raped by a Roman Catholic Church bishop a prostitute, has regretted using abusive language against the woman.

Expressing deep regret over his choice of words for the nun, the Kerala lawmaker said, ''Such a word should not have been used. I said so out of emotion and also in a melee at a press conference in Kottayam. I am sad about it."

George also called for the immediate arrest of the accused in the case, Jalandhar diocese Bishop Franco Mulakkal, if there is evidence against him.

However, the Kerala lawmaker said that the victim in the case was not a nun. 

''According to me, she isn't a nun. To refer to any woman as a prostitute is wrong. I shouldn't have used that word. But I strongly stand by other statements that I made regarding that woman,'' George said.

According to me she isn't a nun. To refer to any woman as prostitute is wrong. I shouldn't have used that word. But I strongly stand by other statements that I made regarding that woman: #Kerala MLA PC George on his statement in which he had called the rape victim nun a prostitue pic.twitter.com/lVDcwzkIl3 — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2018

In the press conference on September 8, the Independent MLA had asked why the nun had not reported the incident earlier and used abusive language to attack her.

George was summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW) over his remarks.

The nun had filed a complaint in July, accusing Mulakkal of raping her multiple times at a small town near Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.

Mulakkal has claimed innocence and said the truth will come out in the police investigation.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma had alleged that the nun was facing discrimination after levelling the charges and was not getting support from the Church.

Earlier, a group of five nuns from a convent in Kottayam, to which the victim belonged, had said they would initiate legal action against George. 

(With PTI inputs)