A file photo of Minister of Women and Child Development Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
Karnataka Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar said she will complain to the President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the alleged obscene slur used by BJP MLC C.T. Ravi against her in the Legislative Council on December 19, 2024.
“I am deeply hurt by the abusive words of BJP MLC C.T. Ravi against me. He insulted me on the floor of the House by using unparliamentary language. I will complain against this to the President and the PM,” she told reporters. She also said her legal battle against the former minister will continue.
“I have risen in public life by struggle. It was never a red-carpet walk for me. I will hold my ground. I had surrendered to silence for the last two days as I was hurt and shocked. But I am back now,” she said. She said that she had received valuable moral support from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar after the incident. “Some ministers supported me by releasing the video of Mr. Ravi’s statement on social media and by publicly condemning the incident,” she added.
BJP leader C.T. Ravi arrested over his ‘obscene’ remarks on Congress Minister
Former Minister and former BJP national general secretary, C.T. Ravi, was arrested on December 19 for allegedly making an obscene remark against Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on the floor of the Legislative Council.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Legal fight to continue
“Mr Ravi is glorifying himself by wearing garlands following the incident. That is because he feels guilty inside. It is shameful that most BJP leaders are backing Mr. Ravi. But I will not keep quiet. I will complain to the Speaker again. I will continue the legal fight against him. I hope the police investigation will progress and the FSL report is out soon,” she said.
“Mr. Ravi’s claims that he was beaten up or tortured are unreasonable and meaningless. He should be ashamed of saying the police were planning a fake encounter. What injury is he showing as proof? Who knows how he got that injury? Now, the people of the entire State are criticising him. The police action is in line with established law. It is the BJP that is spreading lies about the case,” she said.
Clips of verbal altercation released
She released clips of Mr. Ravi’s statements not only allegedly insulting her but also Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, by calling him a drug addict on the floor of the House. To a query on Mr. Ravi’s plans for a ‘Chalo Belagavi’ yatra, she said that anyone with a pure heart and peaceful attitude were welcome to her city.
Meanwhile, Sri Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami of Kudalasangama Panchamasali peetha said he strongly condemns the alleged insult of Ms. Hebbalkar by Mr. Ravi. “I have condemned this in a meeting in Koppal on Saturday (December 21, 2024). The Panchamasali samaj units in various districts have condemned it too,” he said.
Published – December 23, 2024 06:18 pm IST