Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, speaking to the media in Delhi, distanced himself from his Cabinet colleague’s remark, and said “I don’t agree with him (minister), and have asked him to clarify.” He also added: “I have spoken to additional DGP, and asked him to directly report to me on the incident.”
The MBA student, hailing from Mumbai and studying in Mysuru, was allegedly raped by a gang of six men at the foothills of Chamundi Hills. Her friend, who accompanied her, was also beaten up by the gang. The government has formed a special team to track down the criminals, home minister has said.
The minister’s reported remarks that the lady should not have stepped out to visit such a secluded place late evening also provoked sharp reactions from the Congress.
“The home minister has said he had been raped by the Congress. I urge the police to arrest the Congress leader, whoever it is, and book him for rape,” Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar said, taking pot-shots at the government for not arresting anyone even 48 hours after the incident.
“This is an indication of the collapse of the law & order situation in Mysuru,” said Opposition leader Siddaramaiah. The Congress ran a series of tweets to slam Jnanendra, a first-time minister. “It is not enough if you become a minister with lobbying, you must also have the ability to run the (home) department,” the Congress tweeted. The statement that the Congress was raping him shows his helplessness, inefficiency, and failure. When incompetent people come to govern, they behave in this fashion, the party tweeted.