Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (File: PTI)
While Congress Minister D. Sudhakar denied all allegations against him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refrained from commenting on the demand for the Minister’s dismissal.
Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) are demanding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismisses Statistics and Planning Minister D. Sudhakar, following a case filed against him under the Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act in Bengaluru.
This is in connection with a purported video that has gone viral, allegedly showing the Minister verbally abusing a Dalit family, who filed the complaint.
An FIR was lodged against the Minister on Sunday for reportedly trespassing and instructing his associates to enter the property of Dalits, resulting in vandalism, at Yelahanka in Bengaluru.
Additionally, on Tuesday, a video emerged where the Minister is heard allegedly making threatening remarks to the Dalit family, saying, “I have walked with machetes and axes for many years. Do whatever you want, and I will see how you can protect your property.”
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai criticized the ruling Congress, stating, “Congress leaders talk about Dalit welfare, but the actions of Minister D. Sudhakar in the Congress government are anti-Dalit. The CM must immediately remove him from the cabinet.”
JDS leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy accused the Chief Minister of contacting officials to request the dismissal of the police officer who filed the case against his Minister.
“In cases like these, regardless of the truth, there would normally be an immediate arrest. However, here we have a Minister verbally abusing and using offensive language against a Dalit woman. Siddaramaiah, you often question the respect and dignity of other parties. I would like to ask if you uphold these values. After the police registered an FIR, you contacted the commissioner to inquire about the officer who filed the FIR and demanded his dismissal. Is this how your government protects Dalits?” questioned former CM HD Kumaraswamy.
While Congress Minister D. Sudhakar denied all allegations against him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refrained from commenting on the demand for the Minister’s dismissal.
“I will reach out and speak to him. Although I have read in newspapers that a case has been registered against him, I will call and speak to him,” stated CM Siddaramaiah.
