Kalaburagi: The Kalaburagi police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against BJP Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) N. Ravikumar following allegations made by District Magistrate Fauzia Taranam during a BJP protest meeting on May 24. The FIR was lodged at the station bazar police station in Kalaburagi.
Ravikumar’s comments regarding District Magistrate Fauzia Taranam have ignited significant controversy. Speaking at a rally organized as part of the BJP’s “Kalaburagi Chalo” campaign, he accused the district administration of operating under the influence of the ruling Congress government.
In his address, Ravikumar questioned the independence of the District Magistrate, making a derogatory remark that implied she might not be a legitimate IAS officer, stating, “I don’t know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here.” He further claimed that the District Magistrate’s office had lost its autonomy, alleging that even the District Magistrate was succumbing to the pressures of the Congress party.
These remarks have drawn sharp condemnation from progressive groups and civil society organizations, who are calling for action against Ravikumar for his derogatory and communal statements.
Fauzia Taranam, currently serving as the Kalaburagi District Magistrate, has remained politically neutral, yet her position as the administrative head of the district has attracted political scrutiny amid rising tensions.
The BJP-led protest was primarily aimed at demanding the dismissal of Minister Priyank Kharge from the state cabinet. This demand arose following an incident on May 21 in Chittapur, Kharge’s assembly constituency, where Congress workers reportedly besieged the guest house where the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, was staying.
In response to the recent protests and remarks made by Ravikumar, Congress leader and Minister of State Sharan Prakash Patil accused BJP leaders on Sunday of unnecessarily inciting tension and attempting to politicize the administration. “This is a deliberate effort to inflame the atmosphere and sow discord among communities. Such statements directed at a duty officer are completely unacceptable,” Patil asserted.
The incident has intensified the political landscape in Kalaburagi, drawing both the administration and political leaders into a broader conflict between the BJP and the ruling Congress party. This ongoing struggle centers around issues of governance, accountability, and the standards of decency in public discourse.
