Bangaluru; Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa’s comment on women’s safety sparked a controversy today with the Congress workers protesting in Bangalore against his remark. The Congress protestors lashed out at Eshwarappa and demanded his resignation.
“He doesn’t know how to speak; he has used vulgar words which are not correct, he should leave politics,” said a protestor. “I don’t think the Home Minister or the Chief Minister consider everyone as their own. Maybe when their own daughters are raped they might act differently,” he had earlier said.
The BJP leader’s comment came in wake of the rising crimes against children in Bangalore. Eshwarappa, however, later clarified his statement. “I requested that the Chief Minister and the Home Minister should give importance to women’s safety. You see the press-meet of this morning,” he said.
Bangalore has recently witnessed an increase in the number of cases of sexual assault against minors.
Earlier on Sunday, the Bangalore Police had arrested the principal and one of the directors of the private school where a six-year-old child was allegedly raped. A case of negligence was filed against the institution for not following the guidelines issued for children’s safety.
This was the third such incident in recent months that has taken place within school premises in Bangalore. A three-year-old child was allegedly raped at the private school she attended by a school teacher late on October 21.
In July, a school coach was detained over an alleged sexual attack on a six-year-old girl that had prompted protests by parents for several days. Barely a month later, allegations of a 63-year-old teacher assaulting an eight-year-old child in school premises over a period of time, surfaced.
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KS Eshwarappa makes insensitive rape remark in Bengaluru, stokes controversy
Bengaluru: In a yet another insensitive rape remark by a politician, state’s former deputy chief minister and leader of opposition in Vidhana Parishad KS Eshwarappa on Friday said that the Karnataka Home Minister and Chief Minister do not consider everyone as their own and would take action over the recent spate of sexual assaults in schools only when ‘their daughters get raped’.
“Don’t think HM or CM considers everyone as their own. Maybe when their own daughters are raped they might act differently,” Eshwarappa said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader added, “CM & HM should give importance to women safety.”
Shortly after this insensitive statement of the senior BJP minister, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit back and said, “He (Eshwarappa) is an uncultured man,” ANI reported.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan also criticised Eshwarappa’s comments and asked not to give importance to such people. “These are all comments out of anger & desperation,we shouldn’t give importance to this, he said.
“When no action is taken against culprits & people in power do not care about common man, ppl get angry & desperate,” Elangovan added.
A social activist Abha Singh reacted sharply over Eshwarappa’s rape remark and said, “Rape is a serious offence, it should not be politicised by the politicians, I condemn the statement.”
Subsequently, the BJP leader fell into an eye of a storm as he turned personal on rapes as the Congress workers launched a protest outside Eshwarappa’s residence.
The remark came at a time when Benguluru is reeling from the spate of sexual assaults in schools.
Last weekend, CM Siddaramaiah had warned managements that permission granted to their schools would be revoked and criminal cases booked against them if they violate guidelines for safety of children.
“Goondas Act would be invoked against the culprits and government had already taken various steps like amending laws, forming expert committees and issuing safety guidelines, to check such incidents from taking place,” Siddaramaiah had said.
A teacher was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl in a school here, which according to police officials was found to have violated safety norms.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner had recently issued guidelines listing the steps to be taken by schools, including installing CCTVs, to ensure safety of girl students.
Earlier, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by her 63-year-old teacher inside her school premises over a period of time. The offence came to light in early August.
A month before, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped at ‘Vibgyor High’ school premises here which led to street protests.
