The Hubballi city is dotted with posters of Neha Hiremath, the 23-year-old college student who was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight by her former classmate, Fayaz Khondunaik on April 18. The slain girl’s posters are a standing example of how the city has been shocked by the incident and hopes to get justice not just for her parents, but also for Neha.
Tall posters saying ‘Justice to Neha Niranjan Hiremath’ show the young girl in a traditional blue saree and a couple of posters in casual clothing to portray how free-spirited she was, were seen along the way as News18 visited her home.
Though the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka has set up an SIT to probe Neha’s murder, the issue has become a political stand-off between the BJP and the Congress with the Lok Sabha election 2024 underway.
“My daughter has made a huge sacrifice. We are hoping that this sacrifice was not in vain. We have requested all the leaders across political parties who visit our home and pay respects to Neha to fulfil our three demands. The first one being setting up an SIT, second a fast-track court so that justice is given to us within 120 days and finally we appeal for a law to be made in Neha’s name against such atrocities against women by anti-social elements who snuff out lives. Just like the Nirbhaya law, let there be one for Neha as well,” said Niranjanayya Hiremath to News18 as his voice quivered taking his daughter’s name.
Niranjanayya, a local Congress corporator, has not had time to grieve his only daughter’s death as he has been hosting political leaders, well-wishers and media personnel since the day of the incident. “He even set up a pandal (tent) just outside his home so that people don’t have to stand in this sweltering heat,” said Parashuram, a local laundry businessman working close to Neha’s residence.
Union home minister Amit Shah met with Neha’s parents during his visit to Hubballi to participate in a public campaign for the BJP Lok Sabha candidate, Prahlad Joshi, at the city’s Nehru grounds. Neha’s father told Shah that he was unhappy with the pace of the investigation and sought the Centre’s intervention to hasten the process. He also told the HM that the CID officials visited the family only after two weeks of the incident.
“I have given a memorandum apprising Amit Shah ji of the case and he offered to launch thorough CBI enquiry into the case,” said the father after the meeting.
Neha’s mother Geeta repeatedly emphasised that all she wants is justice for her daughter, whose innocent life ended by one brutal act. She gathered strength from her son to speak but managed to say a few words. She constantly gazed at the floor while she spoke as a huge photograph of her daughter in the house stood as a constant reminder of Neha.
“She takes one look and the rips her heart and ours too. The accused must hang to death, nothing else can bring solace to us,” said a family friend who asked not to be named.
Hours before this meeting, Niranjanayya had a meeting with Karnataka state minister Dinesh Gundu Rao who visited their home and paid his respects to Neha. Rao said that Niranjanayya had made a few suggestions and demands which are being seriously looked into and a final call would be taken after deliberating with the Chief Minister.
“No other girl should go through this. The accused in this case was arrested immediately, but we must ensure that there is a deterrent so that such unfortunate incidents do not occur again,” Rao told News18.
The issue resonated even in PM Narendra Modi’s public address on April 28 in Belagavi. Blaming the Congress for its appeasement politics, the PM said that the ruling party in Karnataka has been encouraging a mindset that is dangerous for the state and the country.
“In this Congress rule, our daughters are not safe. In a college in Hubballi, a daughter was stabbed and killed in broad daylight. People involved in such activities have no fear. Her family is tensed, and this is a result of Congress’ policies. What was Neha’s fault? This is a government hungry for vote banks and it cannot protect you,” PM Modi said.
In the neighbouring Belagavi Lok Sabha seat, where former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Jagdish Shettar is contesting, the Neha case has been coming up as part of the poll pitch.
“We have not made it a political issue. Congress party’s policy is the appeasement of minorities. It is this support that the Congress gives that has given an accused like Fayaz the guts to brutally attack and murder young Neha Hiremath in broad daylight. This was nothing but love jihad. He brainwashed her, marrying her and converting her into Islam, isn’t it not a case of Love Jihad? This is 100 percent so. On many occasions, the Congress has supported Fayaz and this as caused law and order issues. An awareness I begin generated amongst people on this, there is an undercurrent now in this region. So BJP is not making it an issue, but it is the people who are debating it,” said Shettar as he spoke to News18.
Around 170 km away from Hubballi, Anjali Nimbalkar, Congress’ Lok Sabha candidate from the coastal seat of Uttar Kannada, also spoke on the subject. She emphasised on how the accused was arrested within 24 hours, but also how the Congress government has zero-tolerance to such incidents or attacks on women. “It is a sad incident and we should ensure that such criminals are taken off the street. Justice will be delivered by the law to Neha as the case has been taken on priority by the government, efforts will be made to keep such people off the streets and women are safe in Karnataka,” she said.
Will Neha Murder Case Affect Voting?
The Neha case has now become an issue that people think will also affect how their votes will swing. Locals told News18 that the issue has certainly titled the scales in favour of Union Minister and BJP’s Hubli-Dharwad LS candidate Prahlad Joshi, who faced an undercurrent of anti-incumbency in the initial stages of the election campaign.
“Neha is like a daughter or sister in every home now. We will think about her when we vote. I want to ask the Siddaramaiah government , you speak for guarantees, where is your guarantee that a woman can walk freely without fear? It’s not free bus service or power, but the safety of women that is of prime importance,” said Meghna Hiremath, an IT professional from Huballi.
Vikas Patil, who travelled from Bengaluru to Hubballi to vote in the third phase in Karnataka also felt that the Neha issue has become not just a political debate, but one that voters are considering before pressing the buttons on the EVMs.
“It certainly is going be a factor in this election. This has become a political issue and the BJP is also gaining ground because the ruling Congress has not been able to do anything about Neha’s case,” he said.
As News18 left Neha’s home, her mother Geeta softly said, “Think of Neha as your sister. Do ensure our voice is heard amongst all those who can give her justice. We cannot have our daughter back, all we want is that another Neha should never face the same fate.”
Find Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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