Cong writes to Guv on BJP MLC's speech
Bengaluru, May 29 (UNI) Karnataka minister NS Boseraju and legislative council chief whip Saleem Ahmed on Thursday submitted a formal representation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging legal action against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for what they described as a communal and defamatory attack on Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi, Fauzia Tarannum.
In their letter, the senior Congress leaders asserted that the MLC's remark, suggesting that Tarannum might have come from Pakistan rather than being a bona fide IAS office, was not merely a personal insult but a direct assault on the Constitution's foundational principles of secularism, equality before law, and administrative impartiality.
'It is not merely an affront to an individual officer, but a direct attack on the constitutional principles of secularism, equality before law, and administrative impartiality,' the letter stated.
The controversial remark was made by Ravikumar during a BJP-led 'Kalaburagi Chalo' protest on May 24. In reference to DC Tarannum, he said, 'The Kalaburagi DC office has also lost its independence… I don't know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here.'
The ministers described the comment as communally charged, defamatory, and dangerous to the secular fabric of the state. They argued that such rhetoric targets a civil servant solely based on her perceived religious identity and sends a chilling message to others in public service.
Highlighting Tarannum's professional credentials, the representation noted that she was recently awarded by the President of India for Best Electoral Practices (2024–25).
'Public service cannot function in an atmosphere of fear, religious profiling, and political coercion,' the leaders wrote, warning that unchecked hate speech undermines both constitutional morality and administrative functioning.
The representation cited Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, as well as Supreme Court rulings that affirm the right to dignity and the state's duty to prevent hate speech.
The letter also referenced ongoing criminal proceedings against Ravikumar under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges relating to defamation, provocation of breach of peace, and promoting religious enmity.
However, the leaders said criminal prosecution alone was inadequate and called upon the Governor to act in his capacity as the constitutional guardian of the state. They urged him to issue a formal condemnation of the remarks and recommend disciplinary proceedings against the MLC under the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council.
'A precedent must not be allowed to take root wherein public servants are vilified on religious grounds with impunity,' the letter emphasised.
The appeal calls for a call for Karnataka to remain a bastion of secular, inclusive and impartial public administration, under the vigilant stewardship of the Governor.
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