Saturday’s barbaric molestation of girls at a home stay facility in Mangalore, may have ignited rage across the nation but Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and his cabinet colleague, R. Ashok who holds the home portfolio, are in no mood to book the culprits under the Goonda Act.
While condemning the attack in unequivocal terms, the chief minister and his team tried to wriggle out of an embarrassing situation by blaming the Opposition for trying to gain political mileage out of the incident. When Congress member, T.B. Jayachandra said the culprits should be "hanged", Mr Shettar responded by saying, "When traitors like Afzal Guru(involved in the Parliament attack) and a terrorist like Ajmal Kasab are cooling their heels in prison, how can you suggest that we hang these culprits? Let us not politicise any of the issues, let us be fair."
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah demanded that the state government book the accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) or under the Goonda Act to teach them a fitting lesson. The Opposition also demanded a ban on Sangh parivar backed organisations like Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishat, Hindu Jagarana Samiti and Sri Rama Sene in the state.
The CM said, “The police has arrested 12 people so far which shows its commitment to protect the state’s dignity and uphold women's honour." Describing the Padil incident as the most unfortunate, he said it was for the Legislature to deliberate and come out with concrete suggestions to prevent such incidents from happening again. “We are committed to bring the culprits to book. Therefore, the police has booked them under several IPC sections including Attempt to rape, Dacoity, unlawful Assembly and Unlawful restrainment,” he explained.
In the Council, the ruling party went on the offensive and did not even allow the Opposition to discuss the attack. Following the opposition of ruling party members to Congress members using the term "Hindu organisation", Congress and JD (S) members trooped into the well of the House and started a dharna. With the oppostion in no mood to listen to the request of council chairman D.H. Shankarmurthy to end the dharna, he adjourned the House.