Bengaluru: The Karnataka state BJP on Saturday claimed that law and order in Karnataka has deteriorated significantly and that murders, extortions and rapes are becoming more frequent. Since the Congress government came to power, the situation has become such that criminals are no longer afraid of the police.
The main opposition party also alleged that a drug mafia was on the rise in Karnataka and a jihadist mentality was spreading, and said the Congress government had lost the moral right to rule the state.
The attack on public order and government law and order came in the wake of the alleged abduction, subjugation and rape of a 24-year-old woman who was taken to a remote location in Karkala in Udupi district.
The incident was reported from the Karkala town police station on the night of August 23, police said, adding that two people have been arrested in connection with the case.
“Law and order has deteriorated considerably in the state. Since the Congress government came to power, there is no fear of the police. The number of murders, extortions and rapes is increasing day by day,” said Sunil Kumar, BJP general secretary and Karkala MP.
Speaking to journalists, he said that at a time when the drug mafia is growing and jihadist mentalities are spreading, the government, apart from politics, must work to save women and girls.
“I don’t know what the chief minister’s priority is. If his priority is to save his seat, then nobody can do anything about it. When such incidents are happening on a daily basis in the state and people are living in fear, the chief minister and the government should have given a clear warning to the people and encouraged them, especially women,” Kumar said in response to a question.
“If the government cannot send a warning to criminals, what message does the government’s silence send?” he asked, saying the situation was such that criminals were not afraid of the police.
Terming the incident in which a 24-year-old woman was allegedly abducted, drugged and raped a “reprehensible and satanic act”, the BJP leader asked, “How did the drug get into the hands of the accused? Who is behind it?” Noting that the chief minister and the home minister had dismissed the allegations of “love jihad” when Neha Hiremath was murdered in Hubballi earlier this year, he asked, “What forces are behind this incident? The government and the district administration must make it public and all the forces behind it should be punished by the police.”
He demanded that the government bear the cost of the victim’s treatment and said that the administration must encourage her and provide protection to her family.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, also claimed that there was no protection for Hindus under the Congress government as rapes and murders continued to occur and such cases were covered up.
Citing recent incidents in Haveri, Hubballi and now Karkala, he said, “Such incidents are commonplace… law and order have decayed and the Congress has lost the moral right to rule the state.”
Published 24 August 2024, 15:32 IS
