Janata Dal (S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy has given a three-day deadline to the government to initiate action against the authorities responsible for the alleged ill-treatment of a Dalit woman on May 17.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said this incident highlighted the government’s “lack of concern for Dalits.” He threatened to stage a dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s home-office Krishna, if Mr. Siddaramaiah failed to initiate action against the officials responsible, besides rehabilitating the Dalit woman.
Sunitha, a Dalit woman from Magadi Road, had come down to meet the Chief Minister during Janata Darshan on May 17. However, it is said that the police did not allow her to meet Mr. Siddaramaiah till 8 p.m. She was reportedly taken to High Grounds police station, where the police allegedly threatened to foist a prostitution case against her.
Meanwhile, stating that Mr. Kumaraswamy was making the issue political, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “The woman has not approached me. When she does, I will look into it.” He also said he has enquired about the incident with the police. “I was told that when asked to leave, she created a scene outside Krishna and threatened to consume poison. After being taken to the police station, she was moved to a remand home,” he said.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara also rubbished Mr. Kumaraswamy’s allegations that the Dalit woman was harassed by the High Grounds police.
He told reporters here on Tuesday that the police neither stripped Ms. Sunitha nor did they misbehave with her. He said that though the staff at the Chief Minister’s residence asked her to come back the next day, Ms. Sunitha refused to leave the place and allegedly threatened them. When she was taken to High Grounds police station, she refused to reveal her details, following which she was taken to a remand home.
