Congress leaders have accused BJP MLC CT Ravi of using a highly derogatory term against Karnataka’s Minister for Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, during a session of the Legislative Council. The Congress has condemned the alleged remarks as offensive, unacceptable, and a blatant attack on women’s dignity and respect.
The controversy erupted on Thursday, December 19, after Zero Hour in the Council when Congress MLCs were protesting against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks about BR Ambedkar in Parliament.
According to Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav, Ravi not only verbally abused Lakshmi Hebbalkar but also called her by a derogatory word multiple times, leading to an uproar from the Congress.
Speaking to Asianet Suvarna News, Nagaraj Yadav recounted the incident and said, “BJP leaders called Rahul Gandhi a drug addict and Hebbalkar objected to this.” He said that she accused him of being “a murderer who had killed two people”, at which CT Ravi abused her and called her a (derogatory word). “She told me, BK Hariprasad, Yathindra and others, that he called her that 10 times,” Nagaraj said.
The allegations against Ravi come with a backdrop of past controversies. In February 2019, two people were killed in a car accident involving Ravi’s vehicle in Kunigal, Tumakuru district.
“The BJP, which goes on and on about (respect for) women and even talks about “Bharatambe” (Mother India), is this the respect they have for women? The BJP claims it is a party with a difference, is this the difference they are talking about?” Nagaraj told Asianet Suvarna.
After reportedly confirming the remarks with those present during the heated exchange, Nagaraj Yadav said that he and other Congress leaders accompanied Hebbalkar to Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti’s chamber to file an official complaint.
CT Ravi, a former national general secretary of the BJP, initially denied the allegations. Later, he told the media, “I don’t know why she thought that. They (Council authorities) are checking the footage. There are records, you can check that. I will respond after that.”
Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the party had filed a complaint against Ravi with the Council Chairman as well as with the police as the events had a “criminal” aspect. “Using such language amounts to sexual harassment. Let the police take suitable action,” he said.
CT Ravi later responded to the CM’s allegation that what had transpired was a criminal act. He said, “Spreading such false allegations and carrying out political defamation (against me) does not behove you, or the position you hold. There are recordings of all proceedings in the Assembly and Council. Without looking into any of those records, does it behove you to make false allegations against me?”
Hebbalkar’s supporters allegedly tried to attack CT Ravi in the Suvarna Soudha.