Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council recently put his foot in his mouth while answering a female journalist's question on the reason behind the opposition party not being proactive on various issues.
On Saturday, Poornima, a reporter with Btv asked the Karnataka BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, who was attending the funeral of sub-inspector of Doddaballapur police,"With so many issues surfacing in the state, including an increase in farmer suicides, why hasn't Karnataka BJP pushed the government to act?
To this, Eshwarappa, said,"You are here. If someone takes you and rapes you, what is the opposition supposed to do? Tell me?"
Karnataka law minister TB Jayachandra reacted to Eshwarappa's statement saying, "he has made an irresponsible statement, and this shows what respect the opposition has for women.We would take legal action."
This is the second time a Karnataka politician has made a shocking statement on rape.
On October 9, while speaking to media on the rape of a BPO employee, Karnataka home minister KJ George had said, "Rape by two is not gang rape."
Chief minister Siddaramaiah has responded to Eshwarappa's remark, after a group of television journalist from national and state media cutting across English and Kannada media submitted a memorandum with 40 signatures, saying that Eshwarappa's statement on rape was derogatory.
CM said that if what Eshwarappa said was true, then it is a highly "irresponsible" statement and that he would take action
However, at the time when the delegation met CM, who was in an all-party meeting convened for Mahadayi issue, he was unaware of what had happened.
A senior official present appraised CM of what had happened and wanted him to act.
In all this commotion, while the CM was being briefed, journalist Gauri Lankesh, who met CM, said, "During the milieu, Eshwarappa escaped like a rat."
Journalists plan to approach Karnataka BJP president, Prahlad Joshi, with a demand for action against Eshwarappa.
This is an updated story