Mysuru gang-rape: K’taka HM withdraws rape remarks following oppn furore, CM’s disapproval

PTI, Aug 27, 2021, 10:27 AM IST

Image Credit: ANI

Bengaluru/ New Delhi: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday kicked up a row over his rape comments made in the context of a gangrape incident in Mysuru, that did not go down well with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and opposition Congress, prompting him to withdraw his controversial statement.

The home Minister’s remarks that the gang rape victim and her male friend should not have gone to the deserted place and his claims that the opposition Congress was trying to ‘rape’ him by targetting him, following the incident, evoked sharp reactions from the opposition party, even as Jnanendra accused it of trying to derive political mileage from the ‘inhuman’ incident.

Hitting out at the Home Minister and the ruling BJP, the Congress said they are “incapable” of protecting the people of the state. With the issue snowballing into a major controversy and the Chief Minister also disapproving of his comments, Jnanendra withdrew his statement.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said his government will form a special team to investigate the gang-rape case and asserted that the perpetrators will be caught soon and brought to justice. Bommai also disapproved of the comments made by Jnanendra and said, “I just don’t agree with the comments made by my Home Minister regarding the gang-rape incident. I have advised him to give a clarification.”

“I have directed the officials to pursue the matter seriously and update me on the developments,” he added.

“Once the DGP (Director General of Police) and I reach Bengaluru, we will immediately form a special team,” Bommai, who was on a two-day visit to the national capital, told PTI.

A college girl was allegedly raped by five men near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru late on Tuesday and the incident came to light on Wednesday.

The girl and her male friend, who was assaulted by the gang, are undergoing treatment in a private hospital.

“Around 7-7:30 pm (on Tuesday) they (the victim and male friend) had gone there. It is a deserted place, they should not have gone.. but we can’t stop anyone from going, they have gone. It is a deserted place and no one usually goes there as no one will be there,” Jnanendra said in response to a question.