‘Shows the mentality of BJP leaders': Karnataka MLC N Ravikumar in the dock over vulgar comments against Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh
While N Ravikumar made the remarks against Rajneesh during a protest in front of Vidhana Soudha Monday, a police complaint was filed on Wednesday. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary S Manohar filed the complaint at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station, demanding legal action against him for using unparliamentary language when referring to Rajneesh.
The Congress party also said it will petition the Legislative Council Chairman, Basavaraj Horatti.
On Monday, BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, MLA Cement Manju, Ravikumar, and former MP S Muniswamy, staged a protest at Vidhana Soudha against the eviction of Dalit families living in Kadugodi, Bengaluru.
Following the protest, they were unhappy that Rajneesh was not available to receive their petition, which demanded that the eviction be stopped immediately.
In a video clip of a conversation after the protest, Narayanaswamy is seen complaining to a police officer about her absence. Muniswamy asks the official, 'Is she CS for Karnataka or only for the CM?' to which Narayanswamy intervenes to say that there was no point in blaming her. Ravikumar then makes a comment against the senior Indian Administrative Service officer.
The issue gained traction after the video clip was widely shared on social media platforms.
Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar condemned Ravikumar's remarks. 'This shows the mentality of BJP leaders. This is neither now nor surprising,' she said.
Hebbalkar said Rajneesh is a senior IAS officer, and a role model for thousands of women. 'It does not matter who the woman is. She may be an officer, Laxmi Hebbalkar, or a commoner… Who gave him the right to make such comments?' she asked.
In May this year, Ravikumar was booked by the police after he said Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum 'may have come from Pakistan'. The Karnataka IAS Officers' Association condemned his remarks, and demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP legislator.
Ravikumar made the remarks during a protest rally organised by the BJP at Kalaburagi on May 24. Ravikumar said the deputy commissioner's office in Kalaburagi had lost its independence, and that the DC was 'listening' to what Congress says.
'I don't know whether she comes from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Listening to your applause, I think she might have come from Pakistan,' he said.
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