The Karnataka government is mulling over taking legal action against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for his controversial remarks against IAS officer and Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said.
This came a day after the Kalaburagi police booked Ravikumar for the comments he made against the award-winning 2015-cadre IAS officer during a protest rally held in the city last Saturday. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint filed by a Kalaburagi resident at the Station Bazar Police Station.
Shivakumar said there was no option but to initiate legal action against Ravikumar.
“The government and the party will take it very seriously,” he said as he demanded a response from Leader of Opposition R Ashok and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra.
“This is not a small issue. The entire Karnataka government stands behind her,” the DyCM said, adding that a lot of IAS officers had met him earlier in the day over the remarks made by the BJP MLC.
Ravikumar was booked for his remarks that Taranum “might have come from Pakistan”. In videos that went viral on social media, he can be heard saying,
“The DC madam is listening to what they (the Kharge family) say. I don't know whether she comes from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Listening to your applause, I think she might have come from Pakistan,” Ravikumar said during the protest.
Ravikumar apologises
Ravikumar, meanwhile said that he had apologised for his remarks made against the IAS officer, adding that a detailed letter of apology would be issued soon.
BJP state president Vijayendra said Ravikumar had already apologised for the incident. “This is a closed chapter,” he said.
The IAS Officers' Association in Karnataka condemned Ravikumar's remarks, and said it stood in solidarity with the officer.
Who is Fouzia Taranum?
Taranum is a 2015 batch IAS officer, serving as deputy commissioner and district collector of Kalaburagi district. She is considered an upright officer with good credentials.
Taranum was one of the 22 recipients of the Best Electoral Practices Award conferred by the President of India in January this year.
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