‘Misogynistic mindset’: Shehzad Poonawalla attacks Parameshwara over remarks on Bengaluru molestation case

NEW DELHI: BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday condemned Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara over the latter’s comments in connection with the Bengaluru sexual assault case. Poonawalla termed his comments as “misogynistic” and said the minister has an “obnoxious mindset”.

The state minister Parameshwara faced criticism for saying, in context of a molestation case that took place on April 3 in Bengaluru, that such crimes are common in big cities. The BJP leader claimed that the remark by the Karnataka Home Minister has shaken the conscience of the nation and also trivialised the incident.

“Display of the most shocking misogynistic, patriarchal, sexist and obnoxious mindset. The Home Minister of Karnataka has trivialised the incident that has shaken the conscience of the nation and particularly the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru, particularly the women. Today, we have come across such a statement from the Home Minister of Karnataka, which has made us feel embarrassed and ashamed of ourselves..”, he told reporters here on Monday.

#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

Furthermore, he alleged that the Karnataka government has not taken any action on the matter, and three to four days have lapsed. He further alleged that if he had lived during the Mahabharat era, he would have considered the ‘Droupadi’ incident a small one.

“Three to four days have lapsed since the shocking incident took place, but the Karnataka Police has been unable to catch the accused. Instead of showing seriousness and taking action, there is a statement from the Home Minister of Karnataka, and it appears that he stands by the molester. The state home minister says that such small incidents happen in big cities…If he lived in the Mahabharata period, he would have said that what happened to Draupadi ji was a small incident”, he added.

The BJP national spokesperson further said that Parameshwara gave the same kind of statement in 2017 when he considered the 2017 New Year mass molestation cases as “small incidents”.

“But for the Congress party, an attack on the respect of women is a small incident…This is not the first time he has made such a statement. When mass molestation incidents occurred during the 2017 New Year’s event, at the time also, G Parmeshwar said that this was a small incident….Today, Congress has appointed such a person as home minister again. Again, he’s showing the same mindset…”, Poonawalla said. (ANI)