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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Updated
Mangaluru, Nov 8: In what may be termed as a damage control exercise, MLC Ivan D'Souza on Saturday November 8 called an emergency press meet to apologize for his remarks on rape targetting BJP leader Eshwarappa's wife.
Earlier in the day he had lashed out at Eshwarappa for stating that the chief minister and the home minister would not take action on rape unless their own daughters became victims. Ivan openly said, "What if Eshwarappa's wife is raped? What will he do then?"
But as soon as the remarks created a storm in the media, especially in TV channels across the state, Ivan rushed to do some damage control and called an emergency press meet just hours after the first presser. Moreover, it is said that he was chastized by the CM for making such remarks in the press.
Expressing regret over his statement, Ivan said, "I am sorry for the statement I made on rape. I used such words out of anger and dragged the family members of Eshwarappa into it to make a comparison. I have erred.
"Hence I apologize to the people of Karnataka and to the family members of Eshwarappa for hurting their sentiments. I made the remark out of anger and it will not repeat in future."
He further said, "No politician should make such statements in incidents like these. Respecting women is our culture, and they should be respected, and we should understand and respond to their problems. I withdraw the statements made earlier."
"I also apologize to the state Congress president and the chief minister. This will not repeat in future. Both the chief minister and the Congress state president have told me that I should not have made such type of statements," he added.
Earlier Report
Mangaluru: Another low in Cong-BJP spat - 'What if Eshwarappa's wife is raped?' asks Ivan
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Nov 8: "What would happen if Eshwarappa’s wife is raped? What will he do then? What will be his reaction? This is not political culture. No one orders you to rape anybody. Adding political colour to these kinds of incidents cannot be tolerated. We will not allow Eshwarappa to enter Dakshina Kannada district," said MLC Ivan D’Souza, taking a jibe at opposition party leader Eshwarappa who had reportedly said in Bangalore that the home minister and the chief minister would take action in sexual assault cases only if their daughters were raped.
Addressing the media at his office here on Saturday November 8, Ivan said, "We will file a case against him directly in the court. He has defamed our chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister K J George. Instead of giving suggestions, he is misusing his position in the government. He should resign from his opposition party leader's post.
"When BJP government had the power, where was Eshwarappa when so many similar incidents happened? His own colleague had tried to rape his friend’s wife. Where was Shobha Karandlaje then?" he lashed out.
"Eshwarappa’s statement regarding Nandita’s death case is not acceptable. Ever since Eshwarappa entered the Legislative Council, meetings have not been going on too well," Ivan said.
Ivan further said that Eshwarappa 'should hold his tongue'. "I feel ashamed to say that Eshwarappa is our opposition party leader," he added.
"Lots of discussion have been held in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council regarding the safety of women, and the state government has formed a committee to punish those who sexually harass women. Goonda Act will be invoked against those accused in rape cases and we have strictly implemented this. Police who do not respond to a woman's complaint regarding sexual harassment will be suspended," he said.
The state government is taking Nandita’s death case very seriously and the CID is doing the investigation. When these kinds of incidents happen it is not just the responsibility of the state government but also it is the duty of the opposition party to cooperate and help in preventing such crimes.
When media persons raised objection to his controversial statement about attacking Eshwarappa's wife, he clarified saying, "I didn’t mean to hurt anyone's sentiments but just want to make him understand how it feels to point fingers at someone's personal life. I am saying this because, being a dignified leader he cannot raise question on women's modesty."
Ivan D’Souza said that In his three months' tenure as MLC, almost Rs 45 lac has been released out of Rs 50 lac of MLC fund for various purposes. He also mentioned that Rs 17 lac has been released under the chief minister’s relief fund for patients.
Corporators Praveen Alva, Shashidhar Hegde, MCC works committee president Ashok D K and others were also present.