After Bengaluru Molestation Shocker, Is Congress Govt Still Blind to Women’s Safety? Minister’s Old Remarks Resurface

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has stirred a major controversy after his insensitive remarks over a recent case of molestation in Bengaluru, where a woman was groped by a man on a city street in the early hours of April 3. The incident, captured on CCTV and widely circulated on social media, showed a man stalking two women in BTM Layout and groping one of them before fleeing the spot.

When questioned about the case, Parameshwara commented, “Such incidents do take place once in a while in such a large city,” further adding that isolated incidents often draw attention, but the police were doing their job. This casual dismissal of a serious crime sparked anger among citizens and concern about the mindset of those entrusted with the state’s law and order.

Despite the public outrage, instead of taking firm action or showing urgency, the Home Minister initially chose to describe the crime as something “that happens in big cities.” It was only after massive backlash, especially from the public and opposition leaders, that Parameshwara came out with an apology on Tuesday, saying his statement was misunderstood and twisted. “If any woman has been hurt by what I said, I regret and apologise,” he added.

#WATCH | On Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara's remarks on the Bengaluru woman sexual assault case, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, "Display of the most shocking misogynistic, patriarchal, sexist and obnoxious mindset. The Home Minister of Karnataka has trivialised… pic.twitter.com/or0WtW9LRT

— ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2025

But the question remains – what is the use of this apology when the government itself has consistently failed to ensure women’s safety? This is not the first time G Parameshwara has made such irresponsible statements. His track record shows a pattern of dismissive attitude towards crimes against women under Congress rule in Karnataka.

This is not one incident, nor is Parameshwara’s casual remark a one-time mistake. There have been multiple past incidents under Congress governance in Karnataka where women’s safety was compromised, and the response from the government was either delayed, politically influenced, or completely insensitive.

1. New Year’s Eve Mass Molestation, Bengaluru (2017):
During the New Year celebrations, several women reported being molested and harassed despite a heavy police presence. What was Parameshwara’s response? He shockingly dismissed it as “something usual during celebrations,” sparking nationwide outrage. Instead of tightening law enforcement, he chose to normalize such a horrific event.

2. Cab Driver Harassment Cases (2018):
In July 2018, Bengaluru saw a surge in complaints where women passengers were harassed by cab drivers. Despite repeated appeals, the Congress-led government turned a blind eye. Even Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had to step in and slam the Karnataka government for “totally ignoring women’s safety in the city.”

3. Belagavi District Assault (2023):
In December 2023, a tribal woman was brutally assaulted and paraded naked in Belagavi district. The Congress government remained mostly silent, and no swift action was seen. BJP national president J.P. Nadda rightly pointed out that the government had become “completely inept” in handling law and order, particularly where it concerns women and minorities.

4. Prajwal Revanna Case (2024):
The most recent blot on the Congress government’s record came with the sexual assault allegations against former MP Prajwal Revanna. The Supreme Court itself expressed concern and noted how the Karnataka government was politicizing the case rather than acting impartially. It again exposed the failure of the administration to deal with crimes against women seriously.

What stands out in all these cases is not just the crime, but the Congress government’s failure to act decisively and humanely. When the protectors of the law make statements like “such things happen,” it sends a dangerous message: that women’s safety is negotiable in Karnataka.

The BJP has also said that Parameshwara’s repeated casual remarks show the government’s complete lack of seriousness. BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla stated that Parameshwara is a “serial offender” when it comes to making misogynistic statements. His mindset, Poonawalla said, is “patriarchal and obnoxious,” and reflects the attitude of the ruling Congress leadership in Karnataka.

BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra has also highlighted the broader issue, saying the state is witnessing a series of crimes like murders, extortions, and rapes ever since the Congress came to power. He added that the chief minister should take moral responsibility for the collapse of law and order.

The Congress party has so far maintained silence over the issue. HT tried reaching out for their response, but there was none. Neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi has said a word about Parameshwara’s comment, let alone taken action against him. Why is there no accountability? Why is the Congress party shielding leaders who repeatedly show insensitivity towards women?

These are not just unfortunate incidents – they are symptoms of a system under Congress’s rule that appears to have normalized crimes against women. From mass molestations to tribal women being paraded naked, and now the BTM Layout molestation case, the state government has failed women time and again.

An apology from the Home Minister does not fix the deeply broken attitude of the Congress-led Karnataka government. The people, especially the women of Karnataka, deserve more than apologies and twisted justifications. They deserve a government that treats their safety as a top priority, not something that can be dismissed as an “occasional incident.”

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