Mangalore, July 22: A protest was staged by thousands of students from colleges across the city, who gathered in front the deputy commissioner’s office here on Tuesday July 22. The protest was organised against the recent crimes happening on women and children in the state and lambasted the government for not taking adequate action against the culprits.
The protests were led first by Tulunada Rakshana Vedike, and then by ABVP who joined them after a protest rally from Dr Ambedkar circle to DC’s office.
President of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Yogish Shetty, Jeppu said, “We should understand the pain of women who become victims of sexual assaults. There were days when we used to say rapes happened only in states like Orissa, Bihar and Rajasthan due to lack of education. But today rapes arehappening in an educated state like Karnataka. Even children are not being spared. Dress code is not an issue. We need to change our perspective about women.”
M G Hegde said, “Everyone is responsible for the gruesome rapes happening in the state, including the MLAs, the MPs, and even the corporates. What is the government doing? The district administration is not holdings meeting with the police or conducting awareness programmes on prevention of sexual crimes. Political parties should stop their drama and the BJP and the Congress should stop their blame game.”
Dinakar Shetty of All College Students’ Union said, “We do not want Tulunadu to become crime district. Though Akshata was brtally murdered, the accused has not been identified yet. We still do not know the status of CBI probe in Sownjaya case. Every second a woman is getting molested. Whoever commits rape should get death sentence.”
In the protest led by ABVP, Ashwini of University College said, “Rape cases are repeating and every day women are facing sexual assaults. There is no adequate protection for women. When the issue of sexual crimes was discussed in the Assembly, the chief minister was caught sleeping. Even the women and child welfare committee is silent. ABVP demands stringent punishment for culprits. Till the victims get justice our struggle will not end.”
Shivakumar, Shyam Bhat, Akshata, Rakshita, Yathish, Anushka and others also spoke on similar lines.
Around 3,000 students took part in the protest. The ABVP submitted a memorandum to the DC on the occasion.
