Hyderabad: The BJP today condemned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly misusing police forces to suppress a peaceful protest by BJP members in Belagavi and for his shocking public behavior that has drawn widespread outrage.
Speaking to the media, BJP Chief Spokesperson and Media In-Charge, N.V. Subash, lambasted Siddaramaiah for resorting to authoritarian tactics like a feudal Lord against peaceful demonstrators, many of whom were women waving black cloths and raising slogans during the Chief Minister’s address. Instructing the police to act tough against such peaceful dissent is not only condemnable but unbecoming of a constitutional head, Subash said.
Worse, a video now going viral across TV channels shows Siddaramaiah almost slapping an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on the dais — an act that visibly displeased the gathered crowd and has further dented the CM’s public image. Such high-handedness, especially when captured on camera, raises serious questions about Siddaramaiah’s temperament and respect for constitutional propriety.
Subash noted that these developments come closely after the Congress leadership issued a gag order to its party members, asking them to refrain from making reckless statements following criticism from the public, especially on social media. The gag order was issued after senior Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues, made controversial remarks advising the Modi government “not to go to war” in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack.
“Is Siddaramaiah bigger than his own party leadership?” Subash asked. “Despite Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge extending full support to the Centre at the all-party meeting to defend India’s integrity and sovereignty, Siddaramaiah continues to make irresponsible statements. His remarks have even been weaponized by Pakistan to deflect blame.”
Subash also drew parallels with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s similar defiance of Congress leadership directives, questioning whether the Congress high command has any control left over its Chief Ministers.
“By disrespecting both national interest and his own party’s directives, Siddaramaiah is emboldening the enemies of the nation while undermining public trust. His disgraceful conduct today — misusing police, manhandling an officer, and silencing peaceful protestors — marks a new low in political intolerance,” Subash said.
The BJP has demanded an apology from Siddaramaiah and called upon the Congress leadership to clarify if it still stands by him after such repeated acts of defiance and misconduct.
