Mangaluru/Bengaluru: A man 'frustrated' over unscheduled power cuts in his area has been arrested for calling Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and allegedly using abusive words against him, with the arrest drawing flak from the Opposition.
Giridhar Rai, who the minister said was a BJP activist, was arrested from his house in Bellare in the Dakshina Kannada District, produced in a court and remanded to judicial custody yesterday, police said.
Upset over not getting any response from the electricity department, Rai allegedly expressed anger when he got the minister over phone and used "derogatory" words against him during the conversation.
"We have a call centre, he is a BJP activist. He cannot use filthy language against me. One day is ok, two days is ok, he has been harassing all my engineers, my staff and lastly myself. I don't want to say the words used by him," Shivakumar said.
"He can't threaten me, so it was my duty to enquire with my officers. I myself spoke to the police officers to take necessary action as per law," he said.
The arrest triggered a controversy with the BJP and JDS slamming the minister and questioning his conduct.
Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said, "The entire government, Chief Minister, his ministers have lost patience. They are not ready to listen to ordinary citizens."
Stating that it was the duty of ministers and Chief? Minister to answer the public, the BJP leader said, "They have to solve the problem and not attack or aggressively act on citizens or file cases. It is completely wrong. We condemn the Power Minister's attitude."
Former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy alleged that police machinery was being misused in the case.
"The way in which the Power Minister has directed the officers to arrest the man shows that this is not people's government. We will raise the issue during the discussion on the Governor's address (in the Assembly)," he said.
He alleged that the government had no capability to provide power supply to people and if someone makes a request, the person was getting arrested on the direction of the minister.
"Is there democracy here? Is it elected government here?" he questioned.
"Police machinery is being misused to silence those who are discussing the government's functioning,"
