Pramesh S Jain
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has been facing backlash for what many are calling “insensitive” remarks about the recent sexual assault incident in Bengaluru where one woman was assaulted on the streets after being followed.
Parameshwara,while talking to the reporters on Monday, appeared to shrug off the incident saying that “such things do take place once in a while in such a large city”.
He added that he is in regular contact with the Bengaluru Police commissioner and has directed police to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Beats should be more effective,monitoring should be done,and there must be regular patrolling, we tell every day.
But when such isolated incidents happen, they attract people’s attention.Do we just let it slide?”asked the minister.
He added,“But such incidents do take place once in a while in such a large city.For that,we will take action as per law.”
The minister’s comment came just a day after a disturbing video of the incident went viral.The CCTV footage shows a man following two women in Bengaluru’s BTM Layout at around 1:55 am on April 3.
The accused then gropes one of them before fleeing.A case has since been registered by Suddaguntepalya police under sections 74 (molestation),75 (sexual harassment) and 78 (stalking).
A person had put the video on social media.Taking cognisance of the video,we have registered a case.We have identified the person who had posted the video online.
She added, “The video is not very clear, and this is why we are taking time to identify him (the accused). Five teams on the ground are working on the case.”
In a separate post on ‘X’,BJP Karnataka unit president B Y Vijayendra said,“The irresponsible statement by Home Minister Parameshwara regarding the harassment of a young woman in Bengaluru’s BTM Layout is tantamount to admitting that the law and order situation in the state has completely collapsed.”
The Shikaripura MLA alleged that ever since the Congress came to power in the state, incidents of murder, looting, robbery,and the harassment and abuse of women and children have been reported continuously.
He further claimed that the state government’s handling of such sensitive cases suggests it sees nothing unusual in them and does not take them seriously.
“These words of the Home Minister reflect their incompetence. Whenever serious incidents occur in the state, the Home Minister reacts as if they are routine and absolves himself of responsibility,” Vijayendra alleged.
