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Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka BJP demands action against Priyank, Kalaburagi DC: ‘Plot to kill' LoP
BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, on Wednesday sought action Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum and Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu for an alleged 'conspiracy to murder' Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavady Narayanaswamy. Responding to questions by reporters on his party colleague and MLC N Ravikumar's remarks that the Kalaburagi DC 'may have come from Pakistan', Agarwal said Ravikumar had apologised for his comments and it was now the Congress government's turn to act. 'We will wait and see how the Congress government acts against the DC and the SP, who, under the leadership of Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, were involved in the conspiracy to kill our leader. Then we will come in front of you and respond,' Das told a press conference. Ravikumar had made the remarks against the DC at a rally in Kalaburagi last Saturday against Congress supporters reportedly gheraoing a government guest house, not allowing Narayanaswamy to come out. Kalaburagi is the bastion of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge; the party workers had blocked Narayanaswamy, who was in the area for the Tiranga Yatra, for allegedly making defamatory comments against Priyank Kharge. At the press conference, Agarwal alleged that though police were present at the guest house that day, they did not immediately clear 'the few unruly Congress workers with criminal background'. 'When their numbers increased from 15 to close to 70, police pretended to detain them. Our LoP's life was put in danger. I demand the Karnataka government take action against the DC and the SP and remove them,' he said. Referring to Ravikumar's apology over his comments against the DC, Agarwal said, 'Ravikumar is a BJP worker. If we cross the Lakshman Rekha by one step, we immediately take it back. We have taken it back…Now, let them (Congress government) investigate. Ask the government what action it will take against Priyank Kharge, DC, SP and Congress workers for trying to kill the LoP.' A 2015-cadre IAS officer, Taranum was among the 22 recipients of the Best Electoral Practices Award conferred by the President of India in January this year. The IAS Officers' Association, Karnataka, has condemned Ravikumar's remarks and demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP legislator.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ravikumar regrets ‘intemperate' remarks against Kalaburagi DC; calls it ‘slip of the tongue'
Following backlash from various quarters, BJP MLC N. Ravikumar on Tuesday expressed regret over his 'intemperate but inadvertent' remarks against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum. Mr. Ravikumar had, during a recent protest in Kalaburgi, alleged that the Deputy Commissioner's office had 'lost independence' as she 'took orders from RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge', wondering if she was an IAS officer or 'someone who came from Pakistan', leading to widespread condemnation. It was seen as a repeat of the Madhya Pradesh incident where a Minister's remarks on Col. Sofia Qureshi triggered widespread backlash. In another development, the Kalaburagi police had registered a case against Mr. Ravikumar on Tuesday. In his statement, Mr. Ravikumar said, 'It was a slip of the tongue and I made these intemperate remarks inadvertently. I express my regret. I have withdrawn these remarks. I hold the officer in high esteem and I have no complaints whatsoever about her professional competency and integrity.' Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the State government would stand by the IAS officer targeted by Mr. Ravikumar. He said a group of IAS officers met him in the morning and discussed the issue. Respected officer In a social media post on X, Mr. Shivakumar said, 'I strongly condemn the unacceptable and derogatory remarks made against Ms Fouzia Taranum, IAS, by a BJP legislator. Ms Taranum, a respected officer of the All India Services, was one of the 22 recipients of the prestigious Best Electoral Practices Award conferred by Hon'ble President of India. Targeting such an accomplished civil servant with hateful and vilifying statements reflects the deeply toxic mindset prevalent in the BJP ranks. The Government of Karnataka stands firmly with Ms. Fouzia Taranum and upholds the dignity and integrity of our civil service.' Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed BJP MLC's comments as 'intolerable' and accused him of attempting to sow social discord. Mr. Priyank Kharge, in a Facebook post, described the comments as 'highly objectionable and communal.' Mr. Priyank accused the BJP of consistently invoking Pakistan to vilify both public servants and political rivals. JMS condemns remark Meanwhile, in Kalaburagi, the Akhila Bharatiya Janawadi Mahila Sanghatan (ABJMS) condemned the 'communal remarks' of Mr. Ravikumar. In a statement, ABJMS president Meenakshi Bali, vice-president K. Neela, and general secretary Devi said, 'This tendency of BJP leaders to target officials based on their caste and religion is deeply embedded in the party's ideology.' They recalled a BJP leader's comment on Col. Sofiya Qureshi. The ABJMS asserted that such statements reflected the BJP's contempt towards women and its pattern of disrespecting people in public service. The organisation demanded that the BJP take legal action against Mr. Ravikumar. The IAS officer had declined to comment on the matter.
India Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Let me focus on...: Karnataka IAS officer on being called 'Pakistani' by BJP MLC
A controversial remark made by BJP MLC N Ravikumar against Kalaburagi Deputy District Commissioner Fouzia Taranum is snowballing into a political controversy with political leaders across Karnataka taking a stance. The officer, herself, however, refused to engage or comment further.'I don't wish to comment on this matter. It's a personal decision, and I believe that should be respected. I'd rather let my work speak for itself. Let me focus on getting things done,' said Fouzia Taranum, the senior IAS officer who was targeted by MLC controversy began after Ravikumar allegedly made a communal reference, reportedly linking the officer to Pakistan, prompting strong reactions from the state ministers. Ravikumar had questioned her handling of an alleged ambush and people's arrest of a fellow BJP leader. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Ravikumar's comments as 'intolerable' and accused him of attempting to sow social discord. 'Nothing will happen to that lady, but it is to create enmity in the society,' he stated, confirming that a police complaint and FIR would be filed against the Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also condemned the statement, highlighting the gravity of the issue. ''The Indian IAS Officers Association met me this morning. This is very shocking. This is the respect they are showing to women officers,' he said. Shivakumar called for a response from BJP leadership and emphasised the state government's commitment to protecting the dignity of its women civil a separate social media post on X, he called the remarks 'unacceptable and derogatory,' pointing out Taranum's distinguished service and accolades. Taranum, according to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, is 'one of the 22 recipients of the prestigious Best Electoral Practices Award' conferred by the President. 'Targeting such an accomplished civil servant with hateful and vilifying statements reflects the deeply toxic mindset prevalent in the BJP's ranks,' Shivakumar said, adding that the Karnataka government 'stands firmly with Ms. Fouzia Taranum and upholds the dignity and integrity of our civil services.'Minister Priyank Kharge said Ravikumar's comment reflected a mindset aligned with the 'Manusmriti ideology' and questioned whether the BJP would act against its own legislator. 'He's calling an Indian Administrative Service officer from Pakistan. Will the BJP take any action?' Kharge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, acknowledged Ravikumar's previous contributions in the Legislative Council, but was baffled by the comment. 'Even illiterates wouldn't talk like that. He is a second-time MLC. This is the culture of the BJP. He should apologise, and the BJP should too,' Reddy state president BY Vijayendra, however, downplayed the issue and blamed the Congress-led government. 'Ravi Kumar has already apologised for his statement and still the government filed FIR against him,' Vijayendra a separate case has been registered against Ravikumar in Kalaburagi under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for making derogatory statements against the SC community. The FIR follows a complaint by a private allegedly made derogatory remarks against Dalits, too, at the rally on May 24 where he made the comments against Deputy Commissioner Taranum.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka govt mulls legal action against BJP's Ravikumar over his comments against IAS officer; MLC says he has apologised
The Karnataka Government will explore legal action against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for his controversial remarks against IAS officer and Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said Tuesday. This came a day after the Kalaburagi police booked Ravikumar for the comments he made against the award-winning 2015-cadre IAS officer during a protest rally held in the city last Saturday. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint filed by a Kalaburagi resident at the Station Bazar Police Station. Responding to media queries, Shivakumar said there was no option but to initiate legal action against Ravikumar. 'The government and the party will take it very seriously,' he said as he demanded a response from Leader of Opposition R Ashok and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra. 'This is not a small issue. The entire Karnataka government stands behind her,' the DyCM said, adding that a lot of IAS officers had met him earlier in the day over the remarks made by the BJP MLC. Ravikumar was booked for his remarks that Taranum 'might have come from Pakistan'. In videos that went viral on social media, he can be heard saying, 'The DC madam is listening to what they (the Kharge family) say. 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,' Ravikumar said during the protest. When contacted, Ravikumar told The Indian Express he had apologised for his remarks made against the IAS officer, adding that a detailed letter of apology would be issued soon. BJP state president Vijayendra said Ravikumar had already apologised for the incident. 'This is a closed chapter,' he said. The IAS Officers' Association in Karnataka condemned Ravikumar's remarks, and said it stood in solidarity with the officer. Taranum was one of the 22 recipients of the Best Electoral Practices Award conferred by the President of India in January this year. The IAS officer also won the Excellence in Governance Award, distributed by The Indian Express, earlier this year in the category of Jury Special Awards for comprehensive development in the district. She was awarded for her initiative in marketing Kalaburagi Rotti as a brand and reintroducing millet as a staple in the region.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Has she come from Pakistan?': Karnataka BJP leader sparks row with remark on IAS officer, FIR filed
Kalaburagi police have registered an FIR against BJP MLC and Legislative Council Chief Whip N Ravi Kumar over a controversial comment made during a political demonstration last week, news agency ANI reported. The senior legislator has been accused of making derogatory and communal remarks against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Tarannum, a 2015-batch IAS officer. According to a report by Times of India, the complaint, filed at the Station Bazar Police Station on Tuesday, follows remarks Ravi Kumar made during the BJP's 'Kalaburagi Chalo' protest on May 24. Targeting the district administration, the BJP leader accused it of working at the behest of the ruling Congress government. However, it was his inflammatory reference to the DC's identity that sparked widespread criticism. 'The Kalaburagi DC office has also lost its independence. The DC madam is also listening to what they [Congress] say. I don't know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here,' Ravi Kumar said, speaking from a public stage. His comment drew immediate backlash from civil society groups, bureaucratic circles, and political opponents, who termed it communal, offensive, and damaging to the morale of civil servants. Several progressive organisations have since demanded strict action, accusing Ravi Kumar of undermining the neutrality of the bureaucracy and making a personal attack rooted in religious prejudice. Fauzia Tarannum is known for her administrative acumen and has received national recognition, including a Best Electoral Practices Award from the President of India earlier this year, Indian Express reported. She has also been applauded for her developmental initiatives in Kalaburagi district. The IAS Officers' Association in Karnataka is among those that have condemned the remark, calling it 'deeply insulting' and demanding an unconditional apology, according to the Indian Express report. Meanwhile, the police have booked Ravi Kumar under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to communal incitement, criminal intimidation, and making statements that could threaten national harmony. The BJP has yet to respond officially to the controversy. (Also Read: Bengaluru's 250-meter sky deck to come up at Kengeri's Kempegowda Layout)
