Kerala minister Bindu Krishna says photo zoomed in on her body circulated online

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 14 (PTI) Kerala minister Bindu Krishna on Tuesday said a photograph taken during her school visit was zoomed in on her body instead of her face and later circulated online, recounting the incident as an example of how photographs were being misused to humiliate people, especially women. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the Women and Child Development Minister said the incident took place during higher secondary admissions in July this year. "Someone there told me that a photograph had been taken. I realised that a person standing behind me had zoomed in not on my face, but on my body. Another person immediately asked them to remove it. I thought it would not become an issue because they had been told to delete it," she said. However, she said the image later appeared on social media. "What was posted online showed only my body, without my face. Normally, when you photograph someone, you show their face. Despite my being a minister, such a photograph of me was taken. Although the post was later deleted, screenshots had already been taken, and the matter was brought to the notice of the school management, turning it into an issue," Krishna said. The minister said she was shocked that such a photograph could be taken while she was attending an official programme with students and teachers. "I asked myself how someone could have the courage to photograph the body of a serving state minister like that in a public place, while I was among schoolchildren and teachers. I am not someone who wants to trouble or threaten anyone. But this went too far," she said. She said those responsible for such violations against women could be identified and action taken under the law. Referring to the wider issue of online abuse, the minister said people were increasingly misusing photographs in the name of freedom of expression. "People think in different ways. We cannot explain ourselves to everyone. We have to be bold and move forward with our lives. Life is not meant to end because of one incident. At the same time, people are becoming increasingly bold in taking the law into their own hands," she said. She said the problem is that, in the name of freedom of expression, some people misuse photographs, edit or circulate them in ways that can ruin someone's life. "Women are often subjected to this, and men too face humiliation. Many men somehow manage to cope with it, but the issue affects everyone. When it comes to women, the situation is even more serious, and the government has already announced measures to deal with such issues," she said. Asked about online platforms that thrive on creating controversies, particularly by targeting women, Krishna said the government was seriously examining measures to curb such practices. "The government is seriously considering measures to deal with such issues. As we have seen in cases involving celebrities, these incidents can have serious consequences, and the government is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves," she said. PTI TGB ADB