Karnataka BJP leader calls Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner ‘Pakistani', stirs row
Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar stirred a political storm with a comment directed at an IAS officer. Speaking at a gathering in Kalaburagi, Ravikumar criticised the treatment of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, who was reportedly locked inside a government guest house when Congress supporters surrounded it.In reference to this incident, Ravikumar questioned the nationality of Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, stating, 'I don't know whether the Kalaburagi DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Looking at your applause, it seems like the DC has indeed come from Pakistan.'advertisementLeader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said he was unaware of the incident. 'I haven't heard any such statement, but I will cross-check,' he said when asked about Ravikumar's comment.
On May 21, Congress workers blocked Narayanaswamy from leaving the guest house in Chittapur, Kalaburagi, where he was staying during his visit for the Tiranga Yatra after he allegedly likened Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge to a 'dog'.Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, called Ravikumar's remark 'highly distasteful'. He said, 'Just look at BJP leaders across the country and the kind of speeches they make, it reflects a deeply disturbing mindset. To make such accusations against a respected officer is unacceptable.'He further said, 'People who talk this way about their own fellow citizens, can we even call them real Indians? He himself is anti-social.'advertisementThis comes days after BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah created nationwide outrage with his controversial remark on Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the spearheads of India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Apart from the political condemnation, the BJP Minister was also reprimanded by the Madhya Pradesh High Court as well as the Supreme Court for his statement.Minister Vijay Shah stirred a row after he said that the Prime Minister had sent a 'sister from the same community' as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.
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