From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 8: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah sharply criticised the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for telecasting the documentary "India’s Daughter" based on the interview of Mukesh Singh, the perpetrator of the December 16, 2012 Delhi gang rape of the woman widely known as Nirbhaya.
Speaking after conferring the Kittur Rani Chennamma Awards on six organisations and 18 women under various categories on the occasion of International Women’s Day celebrations in Bengaluru on Sunday, he felt BBC should not have made the documentary on the first place.
Siddaramaiah said, "It is not right on part of BBC to malign the character and esteem of the victim of the incident."
He said everybody has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. But that right should not be exercised at the cost hurting feelings of others, he contended.
The chief minister also condemned the controversial statements made by Defence counsel for the accused, M L Sharma and A P Singh.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) had issued notice to two lawyers for their outrageous comments about women in the documentary, he said and hoped that stringent action would be taken against these lawyers.
Siddaramaiah said the Congress government in the State is committed to protect the interests of women and the Special Treatment Unit for Women had been set in all the districts with an objective of providing help to victims of sexual harassment.
The State Government was extending every kind of support, including legal assistance, he said.
Explaining the various schemes implemented by the State Government to protect the interests of women,the chief minister said ensuring gender equality in the society was the duty of the Government and also all social organisations as well as women’s activists.
"Though the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution in its preamble, gender equality still is a distant dream for women in the country. It is time for them to unite and fight for their rights," he said.