Daijiworld Media Network-Shivamogga (RJP)

Shivamogga, Oct 19: A day after his insensitive statement on rape attracted criticism from all quarters, opposition leader in the legislative council and senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa apologised to the TV reporter and the general public on Sunday, October 18.

In a press meet called in Shivamogga, Eshwarappa said “The TV reporter is like my sister. If my statement on rape really hurts her, I apologise to her publicly. I did not have the intention of hurting anybody. If the people of the state, particularly the reporter, are hurt because of my statement, I tender my apology.”

“I do not like to take this chapter further and want to close this. Please forgive me if anybody was hurt due to my statement.” Eshwarappa added.

“What can opposition parties do if you are taken away and raped?” was the reply Eshwarappa gave to a reporter when she asked him about the role of his party on improving the law and order situation in the state on Saturday October 17 during the funeral of a police sub inspector who was stabbed to death in Bengaluru.

At the same time in Bengaluru on Sunday, the members of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) women’s wing staged a protest against Eshwarappa. The protestors, led by state President Lakshmi Hebbalkar, shouted slogans against the BJP leader opposite the Mahatma Gandhi statue near Anandarao circle.

Eshwarappa took more than twenty four hours to apologise for his remarks. On Saturday after his statement became a national issue and he was heavily criticized by politicians from all the parties and media too came down on him, he had refused to apologise saying he only posed a question to the reporter which was misinterpreted.