NEW LOW IN RAPE DEBATE

BENGALURU: The increased reporting on rapes in Karnataka’s capital has triggered a vicious verbal duel between leaders of the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

Congress leader from coastal Karnataka and sitting MLC Ivan D’Souza dragged the debate a couple of notches lower on Saturday when he said, “What will happen if I rape (BJP leader) KS Eshwarappa’s wife?”

D’Souza made the statement at a press conference at Mangaluru called to condemn a similar statement by senior BJP leader and former deputy CM Eshwarappa the previous day. “If the daughter of (chief minister) Siddaramaiah or (home minister) KJ George is raped, they will still remain silent,” Eshwarappa had said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, drawing censure from his party and triggering protests from youth Congress activists.

K’TAKA PCC PRESIDENT G PARAMESHWARA HAS CONDEMNED THE STATEMENTS OF HIS PARTY COLLEAGUES

If these comments were not bad enough, another senior Congress leader and party MLC VS Ugrappa questioned the marital status of BJP MP and former minister Shobha Karandlaje who has been attacking the government over its failure to contain sexual violence.

“Ms Karandlaje should not make irresponsible statements. Actually, I am not sure if she is Ms or Mrs,” Ugrappa said of the senior most woman leader of Karnataka BJP who is also a spinster.

Karnataka PCC president G Parameshwara condemned the statements of his party colleagues and promises disciplinary action against D’Souza and Ugrappa.