From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 27: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief D K Shivakumar and Congress Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah have demanded immediate arrest of alleged 'rapist' former minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Congress Bhavan in Bengaluru on Thursday, the Congress leaders urged chief minister B S Yediyurappa and home minister Basavaraj Bommai to ensure that the former BJP minister must be arrested immediately as leaving him to go scot-free "could hurt the honour and self-respect of the women of the state and also the respect of the police department.’’
"The honour of the police department should be of the utmost priority than any person. It is a shame that the government let the accused who is charged under IPC section 376 walk freely in society. It affects the honour of the police department. The chief minister and home minister have set a wrong precedent in the state,’’ they said.
In future, this case will be used as an example when similar incidents happen, they said.
"It is important to know that the police officers have to serve a long period while the politicians arrive and change. Police authorities should never act against their conscience. One should never dishonour the star they possess,’’ they contended.
The two Congress leaders alleged that the police department is acting based on ruling BJP’s instruction rather than adhering to the law. It was said that if the affected victim lady files a complaint, then action will be taken. But even after the complaint was given, instead of taking action, the police are doing something else (searching a different accused), they said.
"You are torturing the lady and her family by telecasting the report in the media. You are humiliating her parents. Now they are frightened by the police notice. Is it Rama Rajya? Or Ravana Rajya?’’ the Congress leaders asked.
They said the home minister had assured that the culprit would be arrested if the video was proven genuine. But the accused is not arrested even after filing the FIR.
"They have used corona as a reason. While others get treated in Bengaluru district hospital, why did they go to Gokak Hospital? What was so special there in terms of medical amenities? Where is the corona report? Where is the tracking record? How could you all support the accused to escape? Why do you want to save them?’’ they asked.
The victim has requested the leaders of Congress to support her defence. The lawyers of our party have come forward to support her. Former ministers are trying to destroy the evidence. They are torturing her parents, they claimed.
It is not up to the police authorities to decide whether the case happened with or without consent. Don’t dishonour your respected positions. The court will make the final judgement. You should be set a different Role Model, the Congress leaders argued.
The state Congress president and former chief minister contended that the former BJP minister is accused of rape. The home minister visits him after this. The call details of the accused have to be investigated. This case has to be investigated in the High court.
"Dear home minister, please don’t let these sabotage the great achievements you have or will achieve ahead. You are also the law minister. Please don’t dishonour your father’s fame. Please take action on the accused. Your action should warn all the culprits. So immediately arrest the accused Ramesh Jarkiholi. This is not about a single person. It is about the pride and safety of the state. Congress will step into any harder level to support the trust. Injustice should not flow from the seat of justice,’’ they said.