Sanjana B, Pune
The Police arrested a Tumkur-based female BJP worker for making ‘derogatory’ remarks against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s family on July 29.
Shakuntala HS, a former BJP Co-convenor for social media in Tumkur district, replied to a tweet made by Karnataka Congress’ official Twitter handle concerning the Udupi incident. Three female paramedical students were booked in a college in Udupi for filming their classmate in the girl’s restroom without the latter’s consent. Several BJP workers have pointed out on social media that the three minors were Muslim, while the victim was Hindu. INC Karnataka’s official Twitter page, calling the incident a ‘mere student prank’, accused the BJP of bringing a communal angle unnecessarily. Retweeting this, the BJP worker had asked if they would be okay with the CM’s wife or daughter-in-law being filmed secretly.
After Shakuntala HS allegedly insulted the CM’s family in a tweet, a local Congress worker Hanumanthraya, filed a complaint against her on Thursday. A First Information Report was registered under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which says all words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman are punishable by up to one year in prison. The BJP worker was released on the same afternoon on bail.
Shakuntala HS, with the Tumkur BJP Zilla Mahila Morcha, had staged a protest earlier this week, accusing the Karnataka Congress government of covering up the incident. They even demanded a “high-level” investigation into the matter.
Alongside, 14 BJP Yuva Morcha workers were arrested in Bengaluru on Thursday. The youth wing leaders were protesting in front of Home Minister G Parameshwara’s residence in Sadashivnagar for “backing up” the three accused. The men had tried to jump barricades in front of the minister’s house and were released later with a warning.