Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Sparks Controversy with Slapping Gesture at Police Officer During Rally

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah found himself amid a controversy after he was seen almost slapping a senior police officer during a public rally in Belagavi.

The incident occurred on Monday at the ‘Save Constitution’ convention, where Siddaramaiah was scheduled to deliver an address.

Public Reprimand of ASP Narayan Bharamani

The dramatic moment unfolded after BJP women workers, who were protesting at the venue, caused disruption during the event.

ASP Narayan Bharamani, deployed for stage security, was called onto the stage by Siddaramaiah. Visibly angry, the Chief Minister reprimanded the officer.

“You, whoever you are, come here, what were you doing?” Siddaramaiah asked and raised his hand in frustration, stopping just short of slapping the officer. He then instructed the officer to remove the protesters causing the disturbance.

Despite attempts by AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and Law Minister H K Patil to calm him down, Siddaramaiah appeared visibly agitated.

Political Reactions and Criticism

Following the incident, Home Minister G Parameshwara admitted he lacked complete information.

“I only saw it on TV and don’t know why the Chief Minister was angry,” he said. He mentioned that BJP workers allegedly entered the venue wearing Congress shawls and later waved black flags.

Parameshwara stated he has directed the ADGP (Law and Order) to submit a detailed report on the incident.

The JDS condemned Siddaramaiah’s actions on X, accusing him of arrogance and misconduct. The party called the act “an unforgivable crime,” noting the disrespect shown to a government officer in public.

“Your term of power is only 5 years. But a government officer serves up to 60 years of age. Power is not permanent for anyone. Correct your misconduct,” the JDS post read.

Previous Remarks Under Scrutiny

This controversy closely follows another statement by Siddaramaiah that attracted national attention.

In reference to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, he had remarked, “war is not necessary,” urging for peace and strong internal security instead of military action.

His comments led to backlash, prompting him to clarify that war should be a “last resort,” and that his intention was to advocate for peace and stronger domestic safety.

Incident Captured on Video

The Belagavi incident, caught on video and widely shared, shows Siddaramaiah confronting ASP Bharamani in public. BJP women workers were seen staging a protest wearing black scarves, leading to the Chief Minister’s agitation.

He was seen losing his temper on stage, questioning Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar who hails from Belagavi, before resuming his speech.

CM Slams BJP During Speech

Continuing his address, Siddaramaiah said, “BJP and RSS will try to disturb peace like this everywhere. They try to incite fire in the society. They try to divide the society. We will not fear such attempts by the BJP. We have the strength to face them publicly. I want to make this clear to them.”

He added, “If we ask our (Congress) workers to take care of BJP and RSS, they will ensure that they don’t open their tail. I condemn the BJP on behalf of all the Congress workers for indulging in such disruptions. Don’t you (BJP) feel ashamed?”

Reaffirming Congress’ stand against the Centre’s policies, he stated, “We will not stop our protest against the central government’s price rise,” and urged the crowd to ignore the disrupters.

Opposition Condemnation Grows

The JDS repeated its accusations, labelling the CM’s actions as disrespectful and unbecoming of a public leader. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also criticised Siddaramaiah’s behaviour, calling it a display of arrogance.

“The Congress government has not only excelled in misgovernance but has also surpassed all limits in arrogance. In the intoxication of power, the Chief Minister has the audacity to raise a hand against a dutiful officer,” Joshi said.

He further added, “Pretending to protect the Constitution while raising hands against the guardians of the law is an act of extreme behavior and arrogance. This is condemnable.”

BJP Mahila Morcha Protests and Further Reactions

BJP Mahila Morcha leaders held protests against Siddaramaiah following the incident.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje joined in the criticism, stating, “In a democracy, every person has the right to stage a protest… Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is famous in Pakistan as he speaks well of Pakistan.”

The fallout from the Belagavi incident continues, with political parties demanding accountability from the Chief Minister for his public conduct.