The Bharatiya Janata Party's district unit in Haveri organized a strong demonstration on Saturday, voicing outrage over a disturbing incident from Hubballi. The protest was a direct response to allegations that a Dalit woman, who is also a BJP worker, was disrobed and assaulted.
Protest Erupts at Martyr's Circle
Party leaders and workers gathered at the Martyr Mailar Mahadevappa Circle in Haveri, raising slogans against the state's Congress-led government. They demanded immediate justice and enhanced security for the victim's family. The protest highlighted growing political tensions over law and order and the safety of women and marginalized communities in Karnataka.
BJP Leaders Condemn State Government's Inaction
Shobha Nissimagoudar, the state women's wing general secretary for the BJP, launched a sharp critique of the administration. She asserted that women have been left unprotected since the Congress government assumed power. Nissimagoudar referenced previous protests by the BJP against illegal trafficking in Hangal, accusing the chairperson of the women's commission of being preoccupied with social media and the minister for women and child development of showing apathy.
In a powerful statement, she challenged the narrative around the Hubballi incident, saying, "Even a mentally unstable person would not voluntarily disrobe." She warned that the victim's family was facing life threats and needed protection, adding that intense protests would follow if their safety was not ensured.
Accusations of Political Puppetry and Scheme Clarification
Virupakshappa Ballari, the BJP district president, alleged that the state's home department was acting as a puppet of the Congress party. The protest saw the presence of several prominent leaders, including former minister BC Patil, former legislators Shivaraj Sajjanar and Arun Kumar Pujar, along with other local functionaries.
In a related development, BC Patil also addressed a press conference to defend the central government's VB-G RAM G scheme. He clarified that the scheme, linked to MGNREGA, was designed to prevent corruption and empower village panchayats through technological interventions like GPS tracking. Patil accused the Congress of spreading misinformation because the new system would curb opportunities for fund embezzlement. He emphasized that the scheme operates on a 60:40 funding ratio to strengthen local governance.
