From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Haveri, Jan 15: There is no question of protecting anybody in the Haveri gangrape incident and the guilty will be punished, declared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Monday.
A woman, who was sitting in a bus along with a man from another faith, was dragged out of the bus by seven men and allegedly gangraped at Haveri about a month back, and has recently lodged a complaint with the police.
The chief minister, who arrived in Haveri told media persons, that the Congress government would never protect anybody accused of heinous crimes and the Haveri gangrape incident is being probed by the police soon after the complaint was received.
The accused persons, who allegedly gangraped the woman, have already been arrested and police are investigating. "All legal steps are being taken,’’ he said.
The chief minister declared that the State Government will take a decision on whether to refer the incident to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate only after receiving the preliminary report of the police investigation.
Answering questions on BJP’s demand for a SIT probe into the Haveri gangrape incident, he said SIT also comprises police officers and the government is viewing the incident seriously.
Responding to BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai’s charge that attempts were being made to hush up the gangrape incident by offering money, he said Congress government does not believe in protecting anybody.
State Budget in February
The chief minister indicated that the State Budget for the financial year 2024-25 will be presented in the month of February as there is a possibility of the model code of conduct being enforced from March 2024 in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget for the coming year on February 1. The State Government is watching the situation, he said.
Answering questions on BJP’s charge that the government has not paid compensation to the farmers in view of the drought situation, he said the government has already declared and is paying interim compensation of Rs 2,000 each from the State’s own funds.
Compensation as per the NDRF norms will be paid after receiving the funds from the Centre, he said attacking the Narendra Modi government of not releasing the funds for drought relief.
CM inaugurates Sharana Utsava
The chief minister later inaugurated the Nija Sharana Ambigara Chowdaiah’s 6th Sharana Samkruti Utsava at Narasapura in Haveri.
Ministers Mankala Vaidya and Shivananada Patil were present. Narasapur Guru Peeth pontiff Shanthabheeshma Chowdaiah Mahaswamy and Charamurthy Charanteshwara Mutt’s Sharanabasava as well as various other religious pontiffs attended the function.