- By Yashashvi Tak
- Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, faces controversy after making a slapping gesture at the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) in frustration over a disruption at his rally in Belagavi district, Karnataka, on Monday.
Siddaramaiah called the police officer onto the stage and addressed him directly, saying, "Come here, who is the SP? What are you doing?"
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The disruption was reportedly caused by a group of women BJP workers, who were chanting slogans against the state government and the chief minister while waving a black cloth.
In response to the disruptions, Congress workers began chanting slogans in support of Siddaramaiah and the state government, prompting the police to detain and remove the protesters.
Siddaramaiah faced strong criticism from the BJP after he stated in Mysuru on Saturday that India should avoid rushing into war with Pakistan and prioritize strengthening security measures instead.
#WATCH | Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah angrily calls a Police officer on stage during Congress' protest rally in Belagavi and gestures raising his hand at him.
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025
During the CM's address here, a few women, who are reportedly BJP activists, indulged in sloganeering… pic.twitter.com/qtC6hL9UYT
“We are not in favour of war. There should be peace, and the central government must ensure people feel secure," he said, adding that strict security steps should have been implemented in the region.
The Karnataka CM accused the BJP and the media of misquoting him and giving his statement a misleading on Monday, sinister spin.
"I never said no to war against terrorism and Pakistan... What I said was that war should be the last resort, and that war is not a solution for everything. These BJPians are fools and are misquoting me. So is the media," he said.
Attacking Siddaramaiah, state opposition leader R. Ashoka linked him to an alleged Pakistani media outlet that included the chief minister's remarks in a report highlighting voices in India opposing war with Pakistan.
Calling him "Pakistan Ratna," Ashoka went on to ridicule the CM, saying India's neighbour would give him "Nishan-e-Pakistan," its highest civilian award, for his "friendliness."