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The Wire
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
‘Not the Statements to be Made': Karnataka HC Tells BJP MLC to Apologise to DC Over Pakistan Remarks
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Law 'Not the Statements to be Made': Karnataka HC Tells BJP MLC to Apologise to DC Over Pakistan Remarks The Wire Staff 9 minutes ago Ravikumar had accused IAS officer Tarannum of working on the orders of the Congress party and had said 'she seems to have come from Pakistan. Karnataka high court. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Kuskela CC BY 3.0 Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now New Delhi: The Karnataka high court has asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC N. Ravikumar to extend a direct apology to Kalaburagi deputy commissioner Fouzia Tarannum over the former's 'Pakistan' remarks against the IAS officer. While hearing the plea of Ravikumar seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him, a vacation bench of the high court comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj on Thursday (May 29) orally asked the MLC to extend a direct apology to Tarannum, reported Press Trust of India. On May 24, during a BJP protest, Ravikumar had accused IAS officer Tarannum of working on the orders of the Congress party and had said 'she seems to have come from Pakistan. His statement had resulted in widespread outrage and protests by a delegation of Muslim women who urged the Karnataka police to take action against the BJP leader. Following his statement, Ravikumar was booked on charges of inciting hatred against Muslims and using derogatory language by calling police officers slaves on the basis of the complaint by one Dattatreya Ikkalakhi. He was also accused of threatening and causing insult to Scheduled Caste people and District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge. 'These are not the statements to be made. You have seen what happened in Madhya Pradesh and the Supreme Court, with a sitting minister, you are no different, you cannot be making such kind of statements,' the high court orally remarked while hearing Ravikumar's plea, reported LiveLaw. The counsel for Ravikumar submitted that an apology has been made, to which the court said, 'After making the statement the apology has to be accepted by the person. You make your apologies to the lady in question and let her accept it and you place it on record, and then we will consider this not until then.' 'This is completely unnecessary. Please apologise to her and let her accept it and place it on record and then we can consider it, until then difficult,' the court added. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Karnataka BJP Leader Asks DC 'If She is From Pakistan', Booked For Inciting Hatred Against Muslims SC Says ED is Violating Country's Federal Structure But the Same Court Had Once Emboldened the Agency Karnataka Temple Trust Issues Apology to Muslims After BJP MLA's Inflammatory Speech SC Extends Stay on BJP Minister Vijay Shah's Arrest; Closes Madhya Pradesh HC Proceedings BJP Spent 40% More on 2025 Delhi Elections Compared to 2020 'Entire Nation Ashamed of You': SC Rejects BJP Minister's Apology For Remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi Andhra: N. Chandrababu Naidu and His Ministers – Including 8 First-Time MLAs – Take Oath Bombay HC Slams State, College For Rustication, Arrest of Student Over Post on Operation Sindoor 'Don't Want Today's Hindustan': Yashwant Sinha on How BJP, Politics and India Have Changed About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
United News of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
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. UNI BDN PRS
