New definition cause for rise in rape cases, says Home Minister

The increase in rapes across Karnataka is due to new definition of the offence, Home Minister K J George said on Tuesday.

During a debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, the BJP’s Govind Karjol said there had been an increase in rape cases in the State in the last two years.

George then stood up to explain that this was because the definition of rape had changed. Even a sexual assault not involving intercourse is defined as rape. Hence, the increase in rape cases, he said.

When BJP members, Jagadish Shettar and R Ashoka, slammed the government for the “breakdown” of law and order, George retorted, “As if during Ashoka’s tenure as Home Minister, there was Rama Rajya.” Another BJP member, Basavaraj Bommai, later pointed to the increasing cases of corruption in the recruitment of sub-inspectors.

When Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked him to support his claim with facts, Bommai replied sarcastically: “Do those who take bribe give receipt?”