Karnataka Home Minister G. Parmeswara triggered widespread criticism on Monday after making a controversial remark about a recent sexual assault case in Bengaluru, saying incidents like these “tend to happen” in large cities.
“Incidents like these tend to happen here and there in a big city like this. Whatever legal action needs to be taken will be done in accordance with the law,” Parmeswara told ANI, in response to a horrifying case of sexual assault caught on CCTV near Sadduguntepalya on April 3.
His comment came as police investigations are underway, with an FIR filed under sections 74, 75, and 78 of the BNS Act. DCP South East Bengaluru, Sarah Fathima, confirmed that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the accused.
The minister also said he had instructed increased beat patrolling and emphasized the need for vigilance, but his generalizing remark about such crimes being part of city life drew sharp backlash from opposition parties and citizens alike, who viewed it as a dismissive response to a serious crime.
Reacting to BJP’s criticism over the incident and law and order in the state, Parmeswara accused the opposition of deflection. “The BJP has nothing else to talk about. We have given good governance so far and will continue to do so,” he said, defending the government’s performance.
He also highlighted public appreciation for the ruling government’s welfare guarantees and claimed that the state’s finances are being managed well. “There may be some shortcomings, but overall, the budget has been widely appreciated,” he added.
Dismissing the BJP’s ongoing ‘Janakrosh Yatra’, Parmeswara called it a reaction to the Congress government’s success, saying the opposition couldn’t digest the positive public response to government initiatives.
The assault case and the minister’s comments have reignited debates over women’s safety, governance accountability, and the handling of such sensitive incidents by those in power.
