BJP has no claim on entire Hindu society, Pramod Muthalik free to contest polls: KS Eshwarappa
Udupi, Mar 14: BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday said the ruling BJP does not claim to have adopted the entire Hindu society, and pointed out that anyone has a right to contest in a democracy in light of Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik's decision to fight the upcoming Karnataka polls.
Speaking to reporters at the party's 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre' in Udupi, the former state minister said the ruling BJP is making all efforts to protect the interests of the Hindu community.
While reacting to a query on Muthalik's decision to contest from Karkala constituency in Udupi district, the BJP leader contended that everyone has a right to contest elections in a democratic setup.
"Muthalik may be a Hindu leader, but we have not adopted the entire Hindu society. Others also can take the initiative and people will decide and vote," he said.
On his controversial remark on 'Azaan' (Muslim call for prayer), Eshwarappa reiterated his stand, saying his views were that of the general public. "If Azaan is played four to five times a day at the time of examinations, how can the students focus on their studies," he said, claiming that his stand has received public support.
Eshwarappa, who is in charge of the 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre' in Udupi, said the Congress will fail in its efforts to win from the district where it drew a blank in the last elections.
He said former chief minister Siddaramaiah had never visited the famous Sri Krishna Math and temple at Udupi, though the Congress leader had attended many functions there as CM.
Udupi district-in-charge Minister S Angara, BJP Udupi district president Kuilady Suresh Naik and local MLA K Raghupati Bhat were present at the rally.
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Odisha woman raped twice in a day, dies after being thrown off four-storey building; 2 held
Paradip (Odisha) (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was raped twice in a day in separate places by her boyfriend and a stranger offering help and then thrown off a four-storey building, leading to her death, in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, police said on Friday.
Police arrested both the accused and booked them under various sections of BNS for kidnapping, rape and murder.
"The incident took place on February 22 after the woman left her house with plans to elope with her boyfriend, who had asked her to come to a temple by promising to marry her. However, he took her to a secluded place, raped her and abandoned her at Rahama bus stand," Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Ankit Kumar Verma told reporters.
As the victim was waiting at the bus stand, another man hailing from Jharkhand, who was heading to nearby Paradip on his motorcycle, saw the hapless woman and offered help.
He, however, took her to the roof of his rented accommodation at a place in Paradip town and raped her again, the SP said.
The accused then threw the woman from the roof of the building, leading to her death, he said, adding her body was found the next morning.
The SP said the victim's brother lodged a complaint at Paradip Model police station on February 25, alleging that his sister was raped and murdered on February 22. An unnatural death case was registered on February 23 following the recovery of the woman's body.
Earlier, in the evening of February 22, the woman's brother had lodged a missing persons case at Tirtol police station when his sister did not return home.
BJD supremo and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Naveen Patnaik, condemned the incident and demanded justice for the woman and other victims of recent rape incidents.
"How many more innocent lives will be lost? From underage girls to differently abled young women, no one is safe. So, is the rule of law still in place in the state? The news of heinous crimes coming from Kanhari in Angul, Kuchinda in Sambalpur, and Paradip is deeply disturbing. Chaos everywhere, insecurity all around, O Mother!" he said in an X post.
"While the government delivers long-winded speeches on women's safety and law and order, the ground reality is extremely alarming. Even in broad daylight, an atmosphere of fear prevails. Despite repeated instances of such deplorable incidents, the government's failure to take any exemplary, stringent action is emboldening the criminals. The government should take proactive steps to spread awareness on women's safety and ensure the rule of law is upheld in the state," the former CM added.
