Siddaramaiah’s 'is this the only news you have' on Bengaluru rape case triggers controversy

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday courted a fresh controversy over the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl in a city public school, as he asked the media if it did not have any other issue.

“Except that, don’t you have any other issue? Is this the only news you have?” Mr Siddaramaiah snapped back at reporters who sought to know the latest on the case that has evoked public outrage and drawn criticism of his government for not acting swiftly.

The girl was allegedly raped on July 2 at Vibgyor High School here, while the complaint was lodged with the police on July 14.

On Friday last, Mr Siddaramaiah found himself in an embarrassing spot as video footage on TV channels showed him apparently dozing off during a debate on sexual offences against women in the Assembly.

The Karnataka Chyief Minister was seen in the video grab tilting his head in the front with eyes closed as the House was immersed in a debate with the opposition BJP going hammer and tongs against the government over a spate of recent sexual offence cases and gunning for the resignation of home minister K.J. George.

Asked about invoking the Goonda Act in sexual offence cases, he said, “Wherever the Goonda Act is to be invoked, it will be invoked.”

About the BJP protesting against the government’s “failure” to check the number of rapes in the state, the CM said, “The Opposition is politicising the issue.”