Karnataka Interior Minister Blames Mysuru Rape Survivor: “Why Go After Sunset” | Bangalore News

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BENGALURU / MYSURU: Two days after an MBA student was gang raped in the foothills of Chamundi and the accused is still at large, Karnataka Interior Minister Araga Jnanendra and the one of her colleagues sought to blame the survivor for going to a secluded location after sunset. While Congress was quick to seize the remarks, his own party spokesman made similar comments against the woman earlier today. Instead of being sensitive to the plight of the rape victim and focusing on state security for women, in muted reactions not only the Home Secretary but also a few others tried to dismiss the fault on the girl for leaving in the evening. What was she doing there at 7-7:30 p.m.? Why did she go to a secluded place with her classmate after sunset? But what can we do, people are free to go anywhere anytime, Jnanendra said after reviewing the investigations with officials on Thursday. Lovers, couples should not venture to secluded places after dark: Minister asked Congress to resign, Home Secretary said: Rape took place in Mysuru, but the Congress is trying to rape me for political gain from the incident. Following outrage and a reprimand from CM Basavaraj Bommai who asked him to apologize, Jnanendra said: The victim is like my daughter. Everything I said was out of concern. I apologize for my comments. Mysuru is a cultural city and it is a black spot on the whole state, he said. Anand Singh, Minister of Environment, Ecology and Tourism, also sought to blame it: Lovers and newly married couples should never venture to isolated places after dark. The government cannot ask the police to watch all the time. Labor Minister Shivaram Hebbar, meanwhile, said such incidents have also occurred under other governments. It is not that such incidents only occur when our party has come to power. Women were targeted earlier, he said. Congress tweeted: Home Secretary, you have a responsibility to protect the state, aren’t you ashamed to make such a lousy remark? With this statement, he agreed that it is dangerous to venture into the state after 7 p.m. under BJP rule. Of Jnanendras jibing in Congress, state party leader DK Shivakumar said, “He uses the word rape very lightly… I am asking the BJP leadership for response to this statement. Hours earlier, however, Congresswoman Manjula Manasa had embarrassed the party saying she was shocked the woman and her classmate had ventured into a deserted location. We shouldn’t bang our head against a wall just because it’s strong, she said, cryptically, drawing criticism from women’s activists. Manasa is now part of the congressional team assembled under former MP VS Ugrappa to investigate the incident and submit a report. Creating a Secure Environment Criticizing the government and party attempt to blame the survivor, KS Vimala, All India Vice President Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane said: Instead of telling women not to go out, these people should secure society for they. It is a failure of our system. From toddlers to the elderly, women are sexually assaulted in different places and under different circumstances. Creating a safe and secure environment for women around the clock is the responsibility of society, said R Indira, retired professor of sociology at the University of Mysore. AAP Mysuru district coordinator Malavika Gubbivani said the need of the hour was to arrest the perpetrators and ensure the safety of the women. (The victim’s identity has not been disclosed to protect her privacy in accordance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines on sexual assault cases)

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