Karnataka Home Minister apologises for blaming gang rape survivor after CM Basavaraj Bommai pulls him up

• Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who had created a controversy by blaming the Mysuru gang rape survivor, withdrew his statement and apologised after CM Basavaraj Bommai opposed it.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who had earlier made two controversial statements in the aftermath of the Mysuru gang rape incident, apologised on Thursday after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai opposed his remarks. He withdrew his statements and said that he had no intention to hurt anyone. Earlier, speaking about the rape survivor, the home minister had said, "Around 7-7:30 pm (on Tuesday) they (the survivor and male friend) had gone there. It is a deserted place, they should not have gone. But we can't stop anyone from going so they went. It is a deserted place and no one usually goes there as no one will be there." In another instance, while reacting to Opposition Congress' criticism of the law and order situation in Karnataka, Araga Jnanendra had said, "Rape has happened there (in Mysuru), but the Congress was trying to rape me, they are trying to rape the Home Minister. They are trying to gain political mileage. It is an inhuman act." Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the home minister withdrew his statements and apologised, saying the gang rape survivor was like "his daughter". "I had no intention to hurt anybody and withdraw my statement. I have also withdrawn the statement made earlier on the Congress party leaders."

CM opposes Home Minister

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also opposed the Home Minister's statement. "I don't agree with that statement made by the home minister, I have advised him against making such statements," the chief minister told India Today. A group of men had surrounded a woman and her boyfriend and asked for money while they were returning from Chamundi Hills around 7:30 pm on Tuesday. When they refused to pay, two of them had allegedly raped the woman, a student at a private college in Mysuru, while the others thrashed her boyfriend. The Karnataka CM said a new committee to probe the incident will be formed on Friday. "A new committee will be formed tomorrow to nab the culprits. I have asked the state police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible," CM Basavaraj Bommai said. Meanwhile, speaking about the gang rape incident, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that the police had already begun an investigation to nab the accused. The survivor of the incident is still under medical care in the hospital, he said. He also said that security measures will be tightened further to ensure the protection of all, especially women. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of all sections in the society," the home minister said. (Source: India Today)