Eye-witnesses' silence shows slogan was not pro-Pakistan: Minister Priyank Kharge on slogan issue
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister of Information and Technology Priyank Kharge has explained the falsehood in the report on some media channels that the supporters of Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Naseer Hussain shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' while celebrating his victory, by pointing at the status quo maintained by the media cameramen and citizens who heard the slogan.
Criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using the pro-Pakistan slogan issue to escape from facing challenges, Kharge, who is also the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, posted on his personal 'X' account on Tuesday, "Some media houses have confirmed that the supporters shouted 'Naseer Saab Zindabad'. In case the sloganeering was truly on 'Pakistan', should it not have sounded the same to all listeners?"
ALSO READ: DKShi, Gundu Rao slam BJP for lack of patience to wait till investigation reveals truth about slogan
Challenging the allegation further, Kharge has pointed out in his post, "Had the supporters indeed shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad', it would certainly have drawn the attention of the journalist at the spot and other citizens near the group. The reporter would obviously have turned his camera in the direction of the person who shouted so. The people too would have objected intensely to such a slogan. They would have ensured police action against a supporter shouting so. But, we find no change in the body language of either the reporter or the eye-witnesses."
ALSO READ: DKShi, Gundu Rao slam BJP for lack of patience to wait till investigation reveals truth about slogan
Extending his question before the media, the minister has asked in the post why the journalist did not display his patriotism on the occasion if a pro-Pakistan slogan was being shouted but continued but gone ahead with work, turning a blind eye to such an incident. Kharge has added, "It is important for the media to become conscious and strive for the uplift of the people rather than worshipping."
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Child rape-murder: Hundreds protest on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune; traffic hit
Pune (PTI): Hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune to protest the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, leading to traffic disruption on the busy route for about four hours.
The girl's family members and other demonstrators placed the body on the road in the Navale Bridge area on Saturday evening and demanded stringent punishment for the 65-year-old man arrested in the case.
Several videos surfaced showing a huge traffic jam on the highway.
Later, the victim's last rites were performed at the Vaikunt crematorium here shortly after midnight amid tight police security.
The accused man, who works as a labourer and has a criminal record, allegedly lured the girl with the promise of food on Friday in the Bhor tehsil of Pune district. He then took her to a cattle enclosure where he allegedly sexually assaulted her and later killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to the police.
He was arrested based on CCTV footage from a private residence, which captured him with the child.
A case was registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and he has been remanded in police custody till May 7.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Saturday met the family of the victim, assuring them of strict action against the accused and a fast-track trial.
Describing the incident as "shocking" and a "blot on humanity", Pawar said the government stands firmly with the victim's family and will ensure justice.
She also spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a fast-track court trial so that the accused receives the harshest punishment.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde directed Pune rural police to gather concrete evidence to build a watertight case and conduct the trial in a fast-track court.
Efforts should be made to ensure the accused gets the death penalty, a statement quoted Shinde as saying.
