‘Such incidents happen in big city’: Karnataka minister’s shocker on Bengaluru sexual assault case
A Karnataka minister has stirred up a political storm after he made an alleged insensitive remark on sexual assault cases, with the opposition BJP accusing him of trying to normalise crimes against women.
State Home Minister G. Parameshwara made the controversial remark while responding to a recent incident where a woman was molested in a secluded place in Bengaluru’s Suddaguntepalya.
The minister said such incidents do happen in a big cities like Bengaluru, although there is an increased police presence.
"Police are working continuously round-the-clock ignoring rain and cold. That is why there is peace in Bengaluru. In a big city like Bengaluru, here and there incidents like this do take place," he said.
Parameshwara said he had instructed Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda to strengthen the patrolling and monitoring system. "I tell him that patrolling should happen in every area in a disciplined and effective way. We take action as per law. The beat system has to be made very effective. That is the reason that I directed the police commissioner about it".
The alleged incident took place in the wee hours of April 3. The CCTV footage showed a man approaching two women at the BTM Layout and suddenly groping one of them. As the victim's friend tried to defend her, the accused fled the spot.
Though the police have registered a case under sections relating to assault, sexual harassment and stalking they couldn’t ascertain the identity of the woman as she has not yet come out to file a complaint.
Paramshwara’s remarks which came amid a massive outrage over the incident have put the Siddaramaiah government in a spot as the BJP had already alleged that the viral video exposed the reality of the city's law and order situation.
"This is such an insensitive remark. Is he (Parameshwara) normalising sexual assault and crimes against women? He is shying away from responsibility and doesn't want to be accountable,” BJP spokesperson Prashanth G. said.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said the minister had trivialised the incident that has shaken the conscience of the nation
“Three to four days have lapsed since the shocking incident took place, but the Karnataka Police has been unable to catch the accused. Instead of showing seriousness and taking action, there is a statement from the Home Minister of Karnataka, and it appears that he stands by the molester,” he said.
Poonawalla added that Parameshara’s remarks were a display of his “most shocking misogynistic, patriarchal, sexist and obnoxious mindset”.
India