"100 Siddaramaiah's will have to come to arrest me," Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy hits back at CM
Bengaluru: Taking a jab at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks about his arrest in the mining case, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and Karnataka JDS President, HD Kumaraswamy, retaliated on Wednesday.
"I have no fear. It would take 100 Siddaramaiahs to arrest me," Kumaraswamy said during a press conference at JP Bhawan on Sheshadri Road in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Kumaraswamy mentioned that he had sought the Governor's approval for prosecution against him in the Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals case. He said, "Permission was sought in November 2023. It has been about ten months," he noted.
He further alleged, "MUDA is claiming that the property is mine, but no Chief Minister has shown such hypocrisy. Now, they are saying they will arrest me. We are not afraid of such threats. The state Congress government is acting out of jealousy because I am a Union Minister. They are trying to target me with a dead case—a case without my signature."
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Kumaraswamy asserted that he would fight a legal battle regarding the Sai Venkateswara Minerals case. "In such situations, we must resort to the law. We have to bow down to the law of the land. I have not even given this company the space of a needle. The central government has not granted any permission, and the state exchequer has not lost a penny. Given this, how could the SIT seek the Governor's permission for prosecution?" he questioned.
He also remarked on the Congress's past accusations, saying, "Earlier, Congress leaders claimed there were 21 cases against the BJP. They couldn’t prove a point of power. Now, they are targeting me. Siddaramaiah should at least bring a case with some substance."
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NCW chief condemns rape-murder of 4-year-old girl in Pune, calls for swift action
New Delhi (PTI): National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Pune, calling it "deeply distressing" and a "blot on humanity".
The girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old labourer, who has a criminal record, in Bhor tehsil of Pune on Friday. The accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of giving her food. After raping her, he killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.
The accused has been arrested.
In a post on X on Saturday, Rahatkar said the incident in the Nasrapur area in Pune was heartbreaking and has shaken society.
"The brutal torture and murder of a four-year-old innocent girl in Nasrapur (Bhor, Pune) is deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking. It is a blot on humanity," she said.
She said Pune Rural police has arrested the accused and noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar have assured strict action in the case.
Rahatkar said the NCW has taken cognisance of the matter and written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), requesting the body to ensure necessary and prompt action.
It has also been recommended that the case be pursued under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and be closely monitored from the filing of the chargesheet to proceedings in a fast-track special court to ensure time-bound justice, she added.
Ensuring justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused is a collective responsibility, the NCW chairperson underlined.
In a post on X, the NCW said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the extremely "heinous" incident.
"This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage, and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girls," it said.
Strongly condemning this grave "inhuman act", the NCW said such crimes constitute a serious violation of children's rights and raise questions about society's security system.
