Karna HM rubbishes BJP's charge of Bangalore as 'rape capital'

Rubbishing charges of BJP leaders that Bengaluru was fast becoming the 'rape capital' of India, Karnataka Home Minister K J George today alleged that states ruled by that party had registered higher number of incidents and his state had taken stringent preventive measures.

Speaking to reporters here, he reeled off statistics to claim that BJP-ruled states have registered higher number of sexual assaults and rape cases than Karnataka.

"Madhya Pradesh has registered 4,135 rape cases, Rajasthan 3,825 and Chhattisgarh 1,380. It is unfair to blame Karnataka on this account," he said.

"The percentage of incidents of rapes in Ahmedabad is higher than Bengaluru at 5.8 in Ahmedabad as against 5.5 in the later case. Such incidents in Delhi are as high as 21 per cent," he said.

George said the state has initiated several stringent steps to prevent sexual assaults. Recently, a ministerial delegation had met the Chief Justice, requesting setting up of 10 Fast Track courts in the state to expedite pending cases.

"Pending decision on our demand we have demanded establishment of at least three Fast Track Courts in the state immediately," he said.

George warned BJP leaders, including B S Yeddyurappa, not to take the law into their hands over their party leaders' recent threat to stage an agitation in front of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha during the winter session of the state legislature being held here.

"Such threats show that BJP does not believe in democracy. Instead the party should take up issues for debate," the minister added.

He took on BJP leaders for demanding his removal from the cabinet, saying it is not for them to decide who should be there in the ministry, but upto the Chief Minister.

Earlier this month, Karnataka government had said it would recommend the Union government to take steps to provide for capital punishment to rapists.

The government had stated this amid growing public outrage over increasing sexual assaults, particularly of minor girls in schools in Bengaluru.