A day after the gang rape of a college student near Chamundi foothills in Mysuru shocked Karnataka, Home Minister and BJP politician Araga Jnanendra had questioned the timing of the survivor’s visit to the site of the crime.
Responding to a query from mediapersons, he had said, “They [survivors] went to a desolate spot, at 7.30 p.m. They shouldn’t have gone there at that time. But, we cannot stop anyone from going anywhere…”
The saffron party leader also caused outrage with his statements and by ‘joking’ about the brutal incident.
Accusing Opposition Congress of ‘politicising’ the incident, the Minister on Thursday told reports “rape has occurred there [Mysuru]. But Congress is trying to rape the Home Minister here.”
When journalists asked to explain his statement, he said that he meant it as a ‘joke’, and did not intend to hurt anyone.
A group comprised four or five men, raped a college student after assaulting her male friend near Chamundi foothills on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred around 7.30 p.m. in the wooded area near the helipad, in Alanahalli police station area.The student and her friend were admitted to a private hospital and both of them are out of danger.
Opposition has condemned the remarks of Mr. Jnanendra. “Not just him but his entire party should answer for such irresponsible statements,” said Karnataka state Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar.
