Will continue supporting #MeToo despite allegations against father: Nandita Das

 

Director Nandita Das broke her silence on the allegations surrounding her father, stating she will continue to lend support to the #MeToo movement.

On October 16, Nisha Bora leveled allegations against Das's father claiming she was sexually harassed 14 years ago by Jatin Das.

Das took to Facebook and said that “she will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the women coming forward with stories of abuse and harassment.”

“As a strong supporter of the #MeToo movement, I want to reiterate that I will continue to add my voice to it, despite the disturbing allegations made against my father, which he has categorically denied,” she wrote.

Das added, “I have maintained from the very start that this is the time we all need to listen so that women (and men) feel safe to speak up. At the same time, it is also important to be sure about allegations so as not to dilute the movement.”

“I am touched by the number of people - friends and strangers - who are concerned and are trusting my integrity. I do believe truth will prevail. And that is all I have to say on this matter,” the Manto director added.

Bora, who was 28-years-old at the time of the incident said, Das during a dinner event asked whether she “had the time and willingness to assist him for a few days to organise his work material” and after she gave her approval on the second day — at his Khidki village studio — he molested her.

"... He attempted to grab me. I wriggled out of his embrace, flustered. Then he did it again... I pushed him away and moved away from him," she wrote on Twitter.

"At that moment, he said 'Come on, it would be nice'. Or something like that. What I recall was his disbelief that I was pushing back. I picked my bag... and ran home. Never to speak about it. Until now," she said.

The painter, however, has denied the allegations and said these days a "game" was going on to level allegations against people for the "fun" of it.

Labelling the allegations as "vulgar", Das in an interview with the Press Trust of India said, "I am shocked. All kinds of things are happening these days... Some people do things and some people make allegations. I don't know her, I have never met her, and even if I did meet somebody somewhere one doesn't behave like this... It is vulgar."