Kalaburagi : A senior BJP leader from Karnataka, N. Ravikumar, is facing heavy criticism after a controversial statement in which he insinuated that Kalaburagi District Collector Fauzia Tarannum “might have come from Pakistan.” The remark, widely condemned as communal and hateful, was made during a protest rally held on May 24 as part of the BJP’s ‘Kalaburagi Chalo’ campaign, reported the South First.
Ravikumar, who serves as a Member of the Legislative Council and the Chief Whip of the Opposition, lashed out at the district administration, accusing it of functioning under the influence of the ruling Congress government. In his speech, he said, “The Kalaburagi DC office has lost its independence. The DC madam is also listening to what the Congress says. I don’t know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here.”
The statement has drawn sharp reactions from civil society groups, activists, and political leaders. Progressive organizations termed it “communal” and “insulting,” demanding action against Ravikumar for targeting a senior government officer on religious grounds.
Despite the backlash, no FIR has been filed against the BJP leader yet.
Fauzia Tarannum, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, currently serves as the District Collector of Kalaburagi under the Congress-led Karnataka government. While she is not directly linked to any recent political disputes, her position has become a flashpoint amid the BJP’s aggressive campaign in the region.
The BJP rally was organized following a May 21 incident in Chittapur — the constituency of Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge — where Congress workers allegedly surrounded a guest house where BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanswamy was staying. The BJP has since demanded Kharge’s resignation.
Responding to the controversy, Congress minister Sharan Prakash Patil accused the BJP of deliberately trying to create communal tension. “This is a deliberate attempt to provoke and polarise. Making such statements against an officer who is doing her job is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
Calls for disciplinary action and public accountability continue to mount as the incident adds fuel to ongoing political confrontations in Karnataka.
