Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge speaking to the media in Kalaburagi on December 21, 2024. Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni
Responding to BJP leaders who termed the High Court order to release legislator C.T. Ravi, who was arrested after he allegedly made derogatory and offensive remarks against Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday (December 19, 2024), as an abashment to ruling Congress, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said that Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report would make the facts clear.
“BJP termed the High Court order as a triumph of justice and abashment to Congress. Let us wait for the FLS report which would make things clear. Not just BJP people, but we too know the law. C.T. Ravi made an offensive attack against Hebbalkar in the Council. No legislator condemned his words. You can understand how arrogant the BJP leaders are by the fact all of them stood in silence to support Ravi instead of condemning him. They even claim that all are united in this matter. It means all of them are bad and none is good. They did nothing to light up the people’s houses but did everything to torch their houses,” Mr. Kharge told mediaperosns in Kalaburagi on Saturday (December 21, 2024).
On the BJP leadership’s assertion on the issue, Mr. Kharge said that the saffron party had insulted the women by supporting Mr. Ravi.
“BJP State Unit president B.Y. Vijayendra did not say that he would look into the issue and take appropriate action against Ravi if he had uttered such derogatory words against Hebbalkar. Rather, he asserted by stating the BJP men are not wearing bangles. It means that he has insulted the women who wear bangles. What can one expect from Vijayendra when his father [former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa] himself is accused in a POCSO case? BJP did not issue a notice to its legislator Muniratna [an accused in rape and honey trapping cases],” he said.
When asked about the allegations that Mr. Ravi was harassed by the police, Mr. Kharge said that the police did their duty which BJP termed as harassment.
“It is a normal procedure to frisk the body of an accused after the arrest. Police did the same thing in this case also. Ravi was arrested for an offense and police were doing their duty. What work did BJP leaders have in the police station when the process was underway? BJP people are accusing Congress of vindictive politics. It is a baseless allegation. Ours is progressive politics. Turing false into truth is BJP’s politics,” Mr. Kharge said.
To a question on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Parliament, Mr. Kharge said: “I don’t know whether or not one can go to heaven after each of the seven lifetimes even after chanting mantras thousands of times in god’s name. I can, however, firmly say that one can get a life of dignity and self-respect in this very lifetime if one embraces Ambedkar’s principles”.
Published – December 21, 2024 04:05 pm IST
