BJP MLC's sexist slur on CS slammed left, right & centre

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

BJP MLC N. Ravikumar has once again landed himself and his party in the eye of a storm, this time with a sexist and defamatory jibe directed at Karnataka’s Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh. His remark, made during a protest near the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, has triggered fierce condemnation.

An FIR has already been registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station under Sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 75(3) (sexual harassment), and 79 (insulting a woman’s modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The complaint was filed by Nagaratna, president of the Nandadeepa Mahila Sangh, who said the MLC’s remark was an affront not just to one individual but to all women in public service.

Ravikumar’s exact words, claiming that the Chief Secretary “works all night for the government and all day for the Chief Minister”, have been widely slammed as vulgar, misogynistic, and an attack on the dignity of the state’s highest bureaucratic office.

IAS fraternity hits back

The Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association issued a strong statement condemning Ravikumar’s remarks as “vulgar and defamatory,” saying they were an attack not just on an individual but on the credibility and morale of the entire civil service. A delegation of senior officers, including Gaurav Gupta (Additional Chief Secretary), Pankaj Kumar Pandey (MD, KPTCL), Khushboo Goel Chowdhary (MD, KSSIDC), and Cauvery BB (Secretary to Government), met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and handed over a letter of condemnation.

In their letter, the officers said the remarks were not only defamatory but demoralising, especially coming from a legislator who has previously made similar attacks on women officers. Just weeks ago, Ravikumar had publicly questioned the nationality of Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, saying, “I don’t know whether she is from Pakistan or here.”

“This is not an isolated instance,” the Association noted, flagging what it called a “disturbing pat- tern” of misogyny and 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,” the statement read, demanding legal action and institutional accountability.

Indecent and derogatory: Legislative complaint filed

The matter also reached the Legislative Council. Saleem Ahmed, Congress Chief Whip in the Council, filed a formal complaint with Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti seeking disciplinary action against Ravikumar. In his written complaint, Ahmed said, “Such defamatory, indecent and derogatory statements about a senior IAS officer bring down the courage and honesty of government servants.

This is a clear violation of the code of conduct and tends to diminish the respect of the Legislative Council.” He urged the Chairperson to treat the matter seriously and take disciplinary action, including cancellation of Ravikumar’s membership “as per the rules and ethical guidelines of the Council.”

Despite being at the centre of a political firestorm, Ravikumar has shown no remorse. Civil servants and rights groups argue this isn’t about one offensive remark, it’s about systemic attacks on public institutions by those who are supposed to uphold them.

“This is not about free speech. It is about abuse of pow- er and institutional accountability,” a senior bureaucrat remarked. “What message are we sending to women who serve the government with integrity?” Fouzia Taranum, previously targeted by Ravikumar, maintained her characteristic restraint: “I don’t wish to comment … I’d rather let my work speak for itself.”

But even her silence hasn't softened public anger. This controversy is more than a political scandal, it’s a test of whether demoratic institutions will protect their own or buckle under political pressure.

Ravikumar’s repeated outbursts are not just verbal missteps. They are institutional assaults designed to humiliate, delegitimise, and demoralise the machinery of governance. What remains to be seen is whether the BJP will hold one of its own accountable or once again let impunity trump principle.