K'taka Home Minister Parameshwara defends his statement on selection of MLC candidates
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday defended his statement on the issue of finalising party candidates for the upcoming MLC polls, saying there was nothing wrong in what he had said.
The senior party leader had said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy and State Congress president D K Shivakumar should not decide on the candidates unilaterally.
He said he had suggested setting up of a screening or a high power committee comprising of senior party leaders to select the candidates, but it was too late now as the selection process seems to have reached the final stage. The matter has reached the party high command in New Delhi.
His statement comes a day after the top leaders' trip to New Delhi, to discuss with the party high command candidates for the biennial election to 11 seats in Karnataka Legislative Council. They are still in the national capital.
"There is no need to interpret my statement wrongly. What I said is there is a process of consulting everyone. I am someone who has worked as the party President, consult is what I have said. No one can say what I have said is wrong. What will happen if consulted? We are not saying give tickets only to people we suggest," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are criteria to give tickets, all these things will be considered.
"Let them follow it, no problem. But, there are several people with experience of having served the party, consult such people. This is what I have said, there is nothing wrong in it," he added.
Reacting to Parameshwara's remarks, Shivakumar had said, "Surely, we will consult them (senior leaders)."
Biennial elections to 11 seats of Karnataka Legislative Council to be elected by Members of Legislative Assembly will be held on June 13.
As per the existing strength of parties in the Assembly, the Congress can win 7, BJP three and JD(S) one seat.
To a question whether he referred any names for the MLC elections, Parameshwara said, "When I have not been asked, how can I refer?"
Asked why the CM and state Congress chief did not consult a senior leader like him, the minister said, "I don't know about it. I have said what I have to."
In response to a question, Parameshwara said, with too many aspirants, he had suggested forming a screening committee or a high power committee to decide on candidates, but it is too late now, as the CM and KPCC chief have already gone to Delhi.
"I don't know how many applications have come (from ticket aspirants). I saw in the newspapers our President saying that more than 300 have come. It is difficult for them (leadership) too for screening. So I suggested forming a screening committee, a high power committee and discussing with them; each one will give suggestions. Probably
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
