Did the Finance Mnister Arun Jaitley pass a lowly, insensitive remark over the gang rape, torture and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua which has sparked growing outrage across the nation?
A poster with Arun Jaitley’s name and picture was being spread virally on social media platforms throughout the day on Saturday.
The content of the poster is:
The poster in Kannada language carries the heading as ‘Maanaviyathe illada mrugagalu’ (Animals without humanity). The content of the poster followed by a quote of Arun Jaitley allegedly. The tranlsation of the quote is “The rape of an eight-year-old girl is a small incident. This issue is costing India billions in tourism,” Arun Jaitley.
Mr. Jaitely, would you have spoken in the same way if your daughter was there in the same place instead of that eight year old girl? Asks the poster. The poster has been spread virally on Facebook and WatsApp.
While sharing the poster, the users commented: “Jaitley being a senior leader have behaved very irresponsibly by giving such a statement.”
When Varthabharati.in tried to check if the finance minister has truly said so, no authentic information regarding his statement was found. Even there was no such video or post on his Twitter account or any of the TV channels have telecasted it so far.
But a report has been found on NDTV’s website which was published on August 22, 2014. Here is the link https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/one-small-incident-of-rape-arun-jaitley-clarifies-after-controversy-over-remark-652203 and screenshot.
This report says about a remark passed by the senior BJP leader at a tourism ministers’ conference which had sparked a controversy. "One small incident of rape in Delhi advertised world over is enough to cost us billions of dollars in terms of global tourism," Jaitley had said while speaking at the conference.
The comment had sparked a massive outrage that Jaitley had issued an insensitive statement on the gang rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi in 2012.
Jatiley, while clarifying his statement had said, "I regret that some word that I used was construed as insensitive, that was never my intention. I have been always been very outspoken about issues relating to crime against women. I am very sensitive to these issues myself,"
At present, Jaitley who is suffering from Kidney ailment is undergoing dialyses therapy at AIIMS in Delhi. Neither he is coming to office nor has taken oath of office after being re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. It is reported that he will be taking the oath on Sunday. In these circumstances, it is too difficult to believe that he had stated about the Kathua incident.
The possibilities of miscreants modifying the 2014’s statement to circulate on social media cannot be ruled out. Many have believed the post. The support of local BJP MLA in the favor of rape accused and the prime minister making delay in condemning the heinous crime might have also forced the people to believe the Arun Jaitley’s poster to be true.
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Bengaluru (PTI): Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and several other senior BJP leaders in the state were taken under preventive custody on Thursday when they took out a march to lay siege to the CM Siddaramaiah's Office residence.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka were among the BJP MLAs taken into custody.
The party on Wednesday started the day and night protest at the Freedom Park against the price rise and other issues and they started march towards CM's residence on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters later, Vijayendra said the agitation is against the price rise, four per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts and diversion of funds meant for Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Scheduled Tribes Sub Plan.
"We are taking these three key issues to people," Vijayendra said.
The agitations took place in several parts of Karnataka.
According to the BJP office bearers, the party has also planned a 'Janakrosha Yatra' (Public Outrage March) from April 7, starting in Mysuru, which will be flagged off by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
As per the schedule, the march on April 7 will cover the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts. On April 8, it will reach Mandya and Hassan, and on April 9 it will proceed to Kodagu and Mangaluru.
The first phase will conclude in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru on April 10. The second phase, starting on April 13, will cover the Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts.
The movement will cover every district in the state. Each district will have a two-to-three-kilometre Padayatra'.