Belagavi, Dec 16 (Reporter) The issue of women’s safety in Karnataka has intensified as a political debate following several recent incidents, including the devastating loss of vision by a woman in the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast and the tragic murder of Neha Hiremath in Hubballi. K Manjula, President of the BJP’s Karnataka Mahila Morcha, on Monday, expressed grave concern over the state’s worsening security situation, particularly in the northern regions. Speaking at a protest in Belagavi, Manjula linked the surge in anti-social activities to the BJP’s defeat in the region, suggesting that the policies of the current government had emboldened criminals. "The women of Karnataka, particularly in the northern regions, no longer feel safe under the current government," Manjula said. "The tragic murder of Neha Hiremath on a college campus in Hubballi and reports from my party workers about rising bullying and the growing presence of anti-social elements since the BJP’s defeat highlight the worsening situation." She also highlighted the horrifying incident at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, where a woman lost her eyesight in a bomb blast. While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar initially downplayed the attack, attributing it to business rivalry, subsequent investigations revealed that the suspects had links to Pakistan and had even planned to target the state BJP office. Manjula accused the Congress of attempting to shield those responsible for such violent acts. She further accused the Congress of a history of shielding criminals. “Under the Siddaramaiah government, cases against rioters involved in the Hubballi violence were dismissed, and hundreds of murder suspects were freed. By doing so, they have compromised the safety of women and surrendered to anti-social forces,” she alleged. Manjula also criticised the state’s leadership for its perceived failure to address these concerns. She questioned the influence of the Congress’ recent bypoll victories, warning that the upcoming elections would result in a significant shift in power. "While the Congress may hold 139 MLAs now, they won’t even secure 36 seats in the next elections," Manjula predicted. Echoing these concerns, BJP State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa emphasised the lack of protection for women in the state, referencing an incident from last year where a woman from a Scheduled Tribe was assaulted during the Winter Session of the Assembly, with no official response from the Chief Minister or Ministers. “While the Chief Minister and his government turned a blind eye to the plight of women, I took the initiative to personally visit the victim in the hospital,” Vijayendra stated. He cited Neha Hiremath’s murder as a stark reminder of the government’s inability to protect women. Vijayendra contrasted the current administration’s record on women’s issues with that of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who had launched the Bhagya Laxmi scheme to combat female feticide. He lamented that the Siddaramaiah government had discontinued the scheme, accusing the current leadership of disrespecting mothers in the state. As public concern over safety grows, the BJP’s criticisms have gained traction, setting the stage for a new political showdown as Karnataka approaches the next round of elections...////...