Karnataka High Court Orders Apology from BJP MLC for Controversial Remarks
The Karnataka High Court has mandated BJP MLC N. Ravikumar to apologize for his controversial comments directed at Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Tarannum. During a recent hearing, Justice Suraj Govindaraj emphasized the inappropriateness of such statements, referencing a similar incident involving a minister in Madhya Pradesh. Ravikumar acknowledged his emotional outburst and expressed regret, asserting that his remarks did not align with the responsible image of the BJP. This incident raises questions about the impact of political rhetoric and the accountability of public figures.
| May 30, 2025, 12:26 IST
Court Directs Apology from BJP Leader
The Karnataka High Court has instructed BJP MLC N. Ravikumar to verbally apologize to Gulbarga's Deputy Commissioner, Fauzia Tarannum, following his controversial remarks in which he allegedly referred to her as Pakistani. This directive came from Justice Suraj Govindaraj's vacation bench while hearing Ravikumar's petition seeking the cancellation of an FIR filed against him regarding these comments.
N. Ravikumar has expressed regret for his communal remarks, describing them as an emotional outburst that he should have avoided. He emphasized that the BJP is a responsible party and that his comments did not reflect its character. He stated, "This was an emotional statement. I should not have said that. The BJP is a responsible ruling party at the center. It was inappropriate for me to make such a comment. I wish to apologize for my statement."
The judge remarked that such statements are unacceptable. He referenced a recent incident involving a current minister in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting that one cannot make such statements without consequences. This was in relation to a communal comment made by Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah about Colonel Sofia Quraishi, an Indian Army officer leading a briefing during Operation Sindoor, which sparked public outrage.
Ravikumar found himself in hot water after questioning the approach of an IAS officer dealing with a local incident related to the arrest of a BJP leader, allegedly linking the officer to Pakistan in a communal context.