‘They’re supporting use of derogatory language towards women’: CM Siddaramaiah

BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has slammed the BJP’s support for party leader C T Ravi, who is facing allegations of using derogatory language against Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Siddaramaiah questioned BJP’s conduct saying, “They are supporting the use of derogatory language towards girls. If it is false that CT Ravi used vulgar language, why was he arrested? Normally, women cannot file false complaints about such allegations. I don’t know why CT Ravi used vulgar language. This is a crime. He was taken to Khanapur for his safety only; people might have started a protest against him, and that’s why he was taken away from there (from the city)”.

Deputy CM D K Shivakumar too labelled Ravi a “serial abuser”, citing previous instances. “This is not the first time that C T Ravi is foul-mouthing someone. We all know the abusive words he used against Siddaramaiah in the past”, he said.

#WATCH | Karnataka: On his arrest, BJP leader CT Ravi says, “They (the government) have acted like dictators, there is a full stop to everything, dictatorship will not last long.”

CT Ravi was arrested after an FIR was filed against him on the complaint by Karnataka minister… pic.twitter.com/TiLbWp9UQQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2024

Referring to Ravi’s arrest, he added, “In the past, he addressed Siddaramaiah as ‘Sidramulla Khan’. He has been foul-mouthing our leaders. Is this the culture of Chikkamagalur? Is it India’s culture? Or is it BJP’s culture? I haven’t seen such a culture in Chikkamagalur district. He must be the only person from the district with such unscrupulous culture”.

Shivakumar also detailed the incident, claiming Ravi repeatedly insulted Hebbalkar. “There was a discussion in the House on Union Home Minister insulting BR Ambedkar, and C T Ravi interfered and called Rahul Gandhi a ‘drug addict’. When Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar jumped in to defend her party leader, he called her ‘prostitute’ several times”, the Deputy CM said.

Shivakumar added, “He used the word 12 times. The media must take this seriously. If you don’t have the evidence, I will share it with you.” Expressing disappointment with the Assembly Speaker, Shivakumar said, “He must protect everyone in the House irrespective of the party line. He should have allowed discussion on this. He should have investigated it”.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy also criticised the incident, calling it a threat to democracy. In a post on X, he wrote, “If C T Ravi used inappropriate or obscene words against the honorable minister, I do not justify his actions. However, the minister’s response and the hooliganism of her supporters are completely unacceptable”. He demanded strict action against those involved in violence inside Suvarna Soudha.

#WATCH | Delhi: On BJP leader CT Ravi, Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai says, “…When there was a slogan Pakistan zindabad, they never arrested anybody, they took time for FCL report for 2 months and then made arrest. Here, no procedure has been done…there is a… pic.twitter.com/m5ZA8EG2a5

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2024

BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai accused the Congress government of misusing the police. “The government of Karnataka has lost its track, and the police in the state are being misused. Arresting CT Ravi right after a complaint and the way he has been treated is wrong”, he said.

Earlier, Belagavi’s Fifth JMFC Court directed BJP leader CT Ravi to appear before the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru. The Hirebagewadi police presented their case before the court, seeking a transit warrant for Ravi.

The court granted their request and ordered the police to take him into custody as part of the legal process. The matter will now proceed at the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru. (ANI)