 "BJP questions Rahul's silence over Tanzanian woman incident")
The party accused the Congress government in Karnataka of covering up the incident and said its "inaction" has brought disrepute to Bangalore city. It also demanded immediate action, including transfer of DGP and suspension of police officers concerned.
"Such a big incident has happened and so much time has passed, still Rahul and Congress are silent for something that has happened under the very nose of their government there. No action has been taken. This shows how much hypocrisy is there in them and how they play hypocritical politics," Union Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
More From This Section
"It is shameful that those who are experts in creating a mountain out of a molehill have suddenly turned silent and their silence seems to justify such an unfortunate incident," Naqvi said.
A Tanzanian woman student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car in the city.
The 21-year-old Tanzanian, who is doing her Bachelor of Business Management course, was dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends on Sunday night.
Naqvi said the incident is very unfortunate and "certainly the Congress is answerable for it".
Further attacking Rahul Gandhi and Congress, he said they create problems even when there are none and hold dharnas and demonstrations to vitiate the atmosphere.
State BJP spokesperson S Prakash said, "I feel the
government made attempts to cover up the incident. Only when the media exposed, it had no other chance but to take action. However, so far no concrete action has been initiated. No officer has been suspended. Immediately, they should transfer the DGP, ACP and Inspector should be suspended."
He said it is the "inaction" that resulted in such a tragic and shameful incident, which has brought disrepute to the peaceful Bangalore city.
Congress leader P C Chacko, however, said Rahul Gandhi is very much alert to these issues and has sought government's opinion on this.
"What he wants is the government should act. Rahulji wants the Karnataka government to act and very stringent action is to be taken by the government. That is what the vice president wants," he said.
Terming the incident as "horrible", Chacko said if foreigners are not safe in the country, India cannot progress in today's world.
He also said that Bangalore is a city which receives everyone from all over and its character should not be allowed to be lost.
(REOPENS DEL18)
Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla also deplored the incident, saying such cases tarnish the country's image globally and insisted the state government take stern action.
"This is condemnable, absolutely condemnable...What happened to girls who come here to learn, in Delhi and other places, this is very sad. This tarnishes the country's image. Government must take whatever action stern required," she told reporters.