The Karnataka IAS Officers' Association on Thursday strongly condemned BJP MLC and Opposition whip N Ravi Kumar for making “vulgar and defamatory” remarks against Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh during a protest at Vidhana Soudha.
The association called the comments an attack on the dignity of the state's highest civil office and demanded immediate legal action.
Ravi Kumar, while addressing BJP leaders gathered near the Gandhi statue for a protest, was caught on video saying with a smirk: “The Chief Secretary works at night for the state government and all day for the Chief Minister.” The remark, made in the presence of other BJP leaders and senior police officials, drew outrage from across the political and administrative spectrum. In the video, Deputy Commissioner of Police MN Karibasavana Gouda is seen smiling as the MLC delivers the comment.
In response, a delegation of senior IAS officers, including Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy and Water Resources), Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Managing Director of KPTCL, Khushboo Goel Chowdhary, MD of KSSIDC, and Cauvery BB, Secretary to Government, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and handed over a letter of condemnation on behalf of the association.
They described the remarks as not only vulgar and defamatory but also damaging to the credibility of public institutions and demoralising to the civil service.
The association also expressed concern over what it called a disturbing pattern of behaviour by Ravi Kumar, recalling that just weeks ago he had made similar disparaging comments about Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum.
At a public event in Gulbarga, he questioned her nationality, saying: “I don't know whether the Kalaburagi DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here.” That comment had already led to a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and drew sharp criticism from the Karnataka High Court, which asked him to apologise.
In their statement, the IAS Officers' Association reiterated its solidarity with both officers targeted by the MLC and stressed the need to protect civil servants from political intimidation.
“Upholding respect in civil service is crucial, and any statement that promotes a culture of disrespect sends the wrong message to officers serving the state,” they said, urging the government to take corrective measures and ensure accountability.
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