'I will WRITE to PM Modi,' Karnataka BJP MLC on no action against RAPE-ACCUSED Lingayat seer

Karnataka BJP MLC H Vishwanath has slammed the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka over its handling of the POCSO case against the rape-accused Lingayat seer.

Bengaluru: A Karnataka BJP MLC has said that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his urgent intervention after no action by the state government against the rape-accused Lingayat seer Dr Murugha Shivamurthy Sharanaru. Karnataka BJP MLC H Vishwanath also criticised the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka over its handling of the POCSO case against the rape-accused Lingayat seer. He said, “If Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has any shame, he should initiate action against the accused seer.”

If HM Araga Jnanendra has any shame, he should initiate action against the seer. Chitradurga SP should be suspended immediately for not initiating action: Karnataka BJP MLC H Vishwanath on sexual assault allegations against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Sri Murugha Mutt (30.8) pic.twitter.com/c5YO9fDGZL

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2022

"Chitradurga Superintendent should be suspended immediately for not initiating action against the seer. I will write a detailed letter with all inputs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking protection of the minor girls," the BJP MLC said.

I will write a detailed letter with all inputs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking protection of minor girls: Karnataka BJP MLC H Vishwanath on sexual assault allegations against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Sri Murugha Mutt (30.08)

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2022

"No politician, opposition leaders, social scientists, psychologists are opening their mouths on the issue. Everything is being viewed politically. The parties are scared of losing votes if they speak on the issue. Everything is vote bank politics," MLC Vishwanath stated.

"No one is bothered about the minor girls who have been meted out with injustice. For the sake of votes, you are supporting someone who is accused of raping minor girls?" he asserted.

The accused seer who was moving towards Maharashtra has been stopped and respectfully brought back by police back to his mutt. Even after four days of lodging a complaint, the authorities are not functioning properly. The district administration and superintendent of police of Chitradurga must be suspended immediately, Vishwanath maintained.

POCSO act is a strong law brought after the Nirbhaya case in 2012 to protect minor girls from sexual violations. The accused in the POCSO case must be arrested in 24 hours. The person who faces charges under the POCSO act is not an accused and he is considered a perpetrator. "What is this? Everyone is set out to disrespect the law of the land," he said.

Vishwanath further advised the accused seer to step down from the position of mutt seer temporarily and submit to legal action in the interest of the safety of minor girls and their families. "I know the accused seer. Once he comes out clean, society will respect him more," he added. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers attached to the Dalit Sangharsha Samithi took out a procession in Chitradurga demanding the arrest of the accused seer.

(With Agency Inputs)