Karnataka CM, Deputy CM fighting for position; Priyanka Gandhi remains silent: BJP's Poonawalla slams Congress on Hubballi gang-rape case

New Delhi [India], January 4 (ANI): BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday condemned the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl by three minors in Karnataka's Hubballi and targeted the Congress government here for failing to provide women's safety in the state.
He said that, due to internal power struggles between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for the CM post, they have forgotten to prioritise women's safety.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "CM and Dy CM of Karnataka are busy fighting for the CM post, as they care for their position and not for women's safety."
He further said that the gang-rape of the minor girl was recorded as well and claimed that several incidents have been occuring in the state. He also mentioned the gangrape of an Israeli tourist in the state. He further attacked the Home Minister G. Parameshwara for taking the issue of women's safety lightly.
He said, "A minor girl was gang-raped raped there, and a video clip was made. Several incidents have been reported in Karnataka. An Israeli tourist was gangraped there...The Home Minister says such incidents occur quite frequently."
He took a jibe at the Karnataka Congress and claimed that power rather than people is the priority for the Karanataka Congress.
He said, "It seems people are not a priority for the Karnataka Congress; power is. Karnataka is grappling with corruption and law-and-order issues. Why Priyanka Vadra is quiet now."
Karnataka Police on Saturday registered a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case against three minor boys, between the ages of 14 and 15, for sexual harassment in Hubbali.
According to the police, the minor boys assaulted the girl for over a week, while the girl's parents were away during the day.
"A complaint was filed that a minor girl has been subject to sexual harassment and assaulted by three accused. All three accused happen to be minors in the age group of 14 to 15. We have taken them into custody," N Shashikumar, Police Commissioner, Hubballi-Dharwad, said.
"These boys have committed sexual offences against the girl for the last seven to eight days. The parents of the girl have been working, and they used to be away during the day," the Police Commissioner added.
N Shashikumar further said that the police will follow the necessary procedures under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Further investigation is underway. (ANI)