As women members of AMMA, the three actresses expressed concern over its Sunday decision to bring back Dileep who was involved in an alleged assault of another woman member from the same organisation.
Dileep back in AMMA: Revathy, Padmapriya, Parvathy slam body, demand urgent meet
Kochi - 28 Jun 2018 20:00 IST
IANS
Three actresses on Thursday demanded an urgent meeting of the top artistes' body Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) to discuss the controversial reinstatement of actor Dileep, who has been accused of abducting and sexually assaulting an actress.
Revathy Asha Kelunni, Padmapriya Janakiraman and A Parvathy wrote to the AMMA general secretary Edavela Babu and demanded an emergency executive meeting to be called on 13 or 14 July.
The open letter was also posted on the Facebook page of the newly formed Women in Cinema Collective (WCC).
As women members of AMMA, the three actresses expressed concern over its Sunday decision to bring back an expelled member who was involved in an alleged assault of another woman member from the same organisation.
"At this meeting, a very crucial decision was taken... Considering the gravity of the circumstances and the matter being sub-judice, it is shocking that such an important matter was decided without listing it on the agenda or being discussed among all members prior to the meeting.
"AMMA had publicly pledged full support to the member who survived the assault but the decision taken for reinstating the expelled member who is now a chargesheeted suspect goes against the promise made to the survivor," the letter said.
As a result, on Wednesday, "the survivor resigned and in solidarity with her three other women members have also resigned", the actresses said.
Dileep back in AMMA: Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeeshan, Geetu Mohandas resign in protest
"This does not reflect well on AMMA," it said.
Earlier, the Kerala State Women's Commission slammed superstar Mohanlal, who heads AMMA, over the reinstatement of the actor who is an accused in the February 2017 actress kidnapping case which took place in Kochi. This landed Dileep in jail for 85 days.
This was the first decision taken by the new committee under Mohanlal.
Kerala fisheries minister J Mercykutty on Thursday expressed surprise in the manner in which AMMA revoked Dileep's suspension.
"It should not be forgotten that actors are icons and they should be perfect role models, but this decision that they took is baffling."
Everyone is now awaiting superstar Mammootty's decision. It was Mammootty who had announced the decision to remove Dileep from AMMA. However, Mammootty is not an office bearer any more.
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Sexual harassment