No matter who owns schools, they have to follow guidelines: Karnataka Home Minister on rape cases

Bengaluru: Home minister K.J. George is under fire from all quarters. His style of functioning has come under scrutiny particularly after four cases of sexual assault on minor girls were reported.

During an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr George defended his style of functioning and that of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, He spoke about various issues including his proximity to the Gandhi family. Here are excerpts from the interview   

Before discussing current issues, I would like to put you a question about your past. When you were part of late S. Bangarappa’s team, you were very aggressive. But you are no longer the same. Why?

(Smiles) I don’t have time to discuss my past. Who told you, I am not aggressive? Today, I am holding a responsible position and am answerable to people. I have not changed much over these years.

Many of your colleagues confide that your name was suggested directly by the AICC with a specific instruction that you should be given the home portfolio. Is it true?

No, it’s not like that.

But such reports pertained only to you and not your colleagues. Then there might be some truth in them. Isn’t it?

Actually, till the chief minister announced his cabinet I did not know that I would be in the cabinet. It came as a surprise that I was given the home portfolio. I am very loyal to the Gandhi family. I am with the party since 1969. I worked with late Indira Gandhi, then with Sanjay Gandhi. Afterwards, I closely implemented whatever tasks were given to me by late Rajivji and now Soniaji. If people believe what you say, I can’t say anything. I can only say such an impression is good for me.

When you were made home minister, the party said it took a conscious decision to send a positive signal to the minorities. But, a group of minority community citizens from Mangalore confided that the situation has not changed much after Congress came to power. What do you have to say?

I don’t want to react to an off-the-record comment. There is the law and there is the Constitution. I will go by that. I am doing my job professionally. One more point, I am the home minister for the entire state. I have to protect the interests of minorities and the majority community as well. I can’t and will not be partial to anyone.

You claim you don’t interfere in the police force. What happened to the cases involving Vijayanand Kashappanavar and Bhairati Basavaraj? The two Congress MLAs slapped common men in public. It was hushed up.

No. I never interfered in the police investigation of any of these cases. I have zero tolerance for corruption. There might be some black sheep in the police force. But, my intention is to make the force competitive and professional.

You say the police are doing a good job. But, you can witness a collapse of law and order in the state.

Who said this? If you are going by the BJP’s version I don’t want to react to it, because it is political in nature.

Farmers’ agitations are going on unabated in the northern parts of the state. The government could not secure justice for sugarcane farmers. In south Karnataka, rapes are increasing. Doesn’t it prove that there is a collapse of law and order?

In Kudagi, where an Ultra Mega Power Plant is coming up, local people are not agitating. Some outsiders created problem. Now it’s been sorted out. Ours is the only government, which announced a very high support price for sugarcane farmers. Since the factories went to the court, the issue could not be settled. You know, how we are dealing with rape cases. We are invoking the Goonda Act against the culprits.

But, your statement on rapes or that of the CM seem political in nature. How can the CM say that less rapes happened during Congress rule compared to that of the BJP. Isn't it insensitive? 

No, he never said that. It was misinterpreted by the media. What he said was the BJP had no moral right to criticise us because they had done nothing, but the Congress is taking swift action.

You are saying your government is serious about taking action on the rapes in schools. The other day, the CM held a meeting with senior officials to discuss the issue. It is surprising that the government did not involve school managements in the meeting? How can you implement the guidelines without their co-operation?

I was not in the meeting. But we are serious about implementing the guidelines prepared by us.

You know very well that a majority of the schools are owned directly or indirectly by Congress leaders or those from other parties? Are you confident you can make them to accept the guidelines?

Yes, I am very confident. There is a PIL pending in the high court. The court told us to form a committee and an Additional Chief Secretary-led committee will be set up. Pending penal action against the schools where such incidents happened, the court said the government could implement the guidelines. And we are seriously implementing it. No matter who owns the school, they have to follow the guidelines. We will not compromise on this.

Moving on, Mr Kempaiah was appointed as advisor to you. Isn’t it a move to clip your wings?

No, not at all. It was I who asked the CM to give me an advisor to assist me on various issues. There was no confusion on that at all. Why you make this an issue? Didn’t former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa have a legal advisor?