Karnataka BJP Leader Stirs Row After Calling IAS Officer ‘Pakistani’, Case Filed

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Last Updated:May 26, 2025, 21:46 IST

Karnataka BJP legislator N Ravikumar triggered a controversy after making a communal remark suggesting the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner was "from Pakistan."

Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar calls Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum ‘Pakistani’. (File)

Karnataka BJP leader N Ravikumar stirred a controversy after he made a defamatory comment against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, a Muslim IAS officer.

While protesting against the alleged mistreatment 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 front of the DC’s office, Ravikumar had questioned the nationality of the officer saying whether she was “from Pakistan".

On May 21, Narayanaswamy was reportedly confined inside a government guest house by Congress supporters during his visit to Chittapur. It was a backlash by Congress workers following his controversial comment comparing Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge to a dog.

During the protest, Ravikumar had said, “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."

Amid the backlash, the BJP MLC has apologised in a press release, saying that he regrets his inadvertent and intemperate remarks, and that he had no doubts about the DC’s integrity or competency.

Congress Slams Comment

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge slammed Ravikumar for his remark and called it “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."

ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಹೆಸರು ಹೇಳದಿದ್ದರೆ ತಿಂದಿದ್ದು ಜೀರ್ಣ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ರಾತ್ರಿ ನಿದ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ಎಂದು ಕನವರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೋ ಏನೋ.ಕಲಬುರಗಿಯ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯ ರವಿಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಖಂಡನೀಯ.

ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ಪ್ರೇಮಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರು ಇಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ನಾಯಕರ… pic.twitter.com/hYfHvlawtS

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) May 26, 2025

The IAS Officers Association also condemned the BJP MLC’s remarks, demanding an unconditional apology from the legislator and urging authorities to file a case under the appropriate legal provisions.