The BJP legislator’s statements were aimed at sowing discord among communities, creating fear among the public, and inciting hatred against the Muslim community - FIR
KALABURAGI: The Kalaburagi City Police have registered an FIR against BJP MLC N. Ravi Kumar for allegedly making inflammatory and derogatory remarks targeting Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, police officers, and Minister Priyank Kharge. The case was filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The complaint, filed by one Dattatreya, a resident of Sharan Sirasagi in Kalaburagi, alleges that Chief Whip of the opposition in Legislative Council Ravi Kumar, during a public speech in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office on May 24 stated that he was unsure whether DC Fouzia Taranum, was from Pakistan or India. He further alleged that since she is a Muslim, she could not be truly loyal to the Indian Constitution.
The MLC also reportedly made derogatory remarks against three police officers — Chandrashekar Tigadi, Nataraj Nade, and Shankargouda Patil — alleging that they were unable to perform their official duties. The complaint adds that Ravi Kumar cast aspersions on whether Kalaburagi city belonged to Karnataka or Pakistan and accused Minister Priyank Kharge of threatening the reputation of police officers and inciting them to neglect their duties.
According to the FIR, the BJP legislator’s statements were aimed at sowing discord among communities, creating fear among the public, and inciting hatred against the Muslim community. He also allegedly referred to police officers as “slaves” and used objectionable language to insult Minister Priyank Kharge and members of the Scheduled Castes.
The case has been registered at Kalaburagi City Police Station under BNS sections 197 (insulting public servant), 224 (resisting lawful apprehension), 299 (defamation), 302 (statements intended to cause public mischief), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), along with section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. An investigation is currently underway.
Kalaburagi district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge has come down heavily on BJP MLC N. Ravikumar for his controversial comments.
Kharge, in a strongly worded statement, said, “BJP leaders seem unable to digest their food unless they mention Pakistan; perhaps they even chant ‘Pakistan, Pakistan’ in their dreams.”
Kharge said the BJP’s obsession with Pakistan and Muslims has gone beyond political opponents and now targets even serving government officers. “So far, Pakistan-loving BJP leaders used the name of Pakistan to attack political opponents. Now their tongues have stretched so far that they are accusing officials themselves of being from Pakistan,” he said.
Drawing parallels with earlier controversial remarks made by BJP leaders, Kharge said, “They called an army officer terrorist’s sister, claimed that soldiers fall at Modi’s feet, and now say that the DC of Kalaburagi is from Pakistan. BJP leaders are incapable of moving past their fixation with Pakistan and Muslims.”
Defending DC Fouzia Taranum, Kharge said she is a qualified IAS officer who serves the country with integrity. “She cleared the civil services exam to serve the nation. President Droupadi Murmu even awarded her the Best Electoral Officer award. She didn’t earn her post by chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ or by acting as an RSS slave,” he said.
Kharge accused the BJP of turning the mockery of dedicated public servants into a political habit. “There is no difference between what Vijay Shah said about army officer Sofia Qureshi and what Ravi Kumar has now said about DC Fouzia. Both reflect the same communal mentality,” he said.
