– Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
Bengaluru: BJP MLC N. Ravikumar is facing sharp backlash from across the civil services, political circles, and the public after making a sexually suggestive and derogatory remark against Karnataka Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh during a protest near the Vidhana Soudha earlier this week.
The remark – suggesting that Dr. Rajneesh works “all night for the government and all day for the Chief Minister.” – has been widely condemned as vulgar, misogynistic, and inappropriate for a public representative. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed under IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment), 504 (intentional insult), and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) following a complaint by the Nandadeepa Mahila Sangha. Also, the Vidhana Soudha police, based on a complaint by social worker Nagarathna, filed an FIR on Thursday against Ravikumar under Sections 351(3)(criminal intimidation), 75(3) (sexual harassment), and 79 (offence of insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS Act).
A senior bureaucrat called the remark “a new low in political discourse” and said it represents “not just an individual’s misconduct but a reflection of how institutional dignity is being eroded by those in power.”
The Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association released a strongly worded statement, condemning the “vulgar and deliberate” nature of the comment and demanding that appropriate disciplinary action be taken. The association stressed that such language, if left unchecked, could intimidate women officers across the state.
“If such indecent words can be spoken about the highest-ranking bureaucrat in the state, what protection is left for young women officers working in remote districts?” the association stated.
This is not the first time Ravikumar has attracted criticism for controversial comments. He had previously accused Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum of “working for Pakistan,” a remark condemned as communal and deeply unprofessional. A senior officer in the revenue department remarked anonymously, “This is not a one-off remark – it’s part of a pattern where women in leadership, especially those who show independent thinking, are targeted and humiliated.”
Political voices have also joined the chorus of condemnation. A senior functionary in the public sector pointed out, “This kind of repeated behaviour is rooted in a deeper ideological culture. It reflects what is being taught in the political training grounds, where women in power are not tolerated but viewed as threats.”
Several Congress ministers have raised the issue in the Legislative Council. Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge said the remark was “not an accident but a reflection of a mindset taught in RSS shakhas.”
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar asked, “Is this the kind of respect BJP has for senior women officers?” Labour Minister Santosh Lad added, “We must call it what it is – systemic and intentional. It must be punished.”
A formal complaint has been submitted to the Chairman of the Legislative Council by Congress Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, demanding Ravikumar’s suspension for breach of privilege and violation of legislative conduct.
Despite the escalating criticism, BJP leadership has so far not issued any statement or taken disciplinary action against Ravikumar. A public sector union leader commented, “The silence of the party sends a dangerous signal. Is this behaviour acceptable? Are votes more important than values?”
Public opinion, too, appears to be shifting. A women’s rights activist based in Bengaluru said, “This is not just about one woman. When a Chief Secretary is humiliated like this, it discourages thousands of capable women from entering public service.”
In editorial responses from The New Indian Express, Vartha Bharati, and Navbharat Times, several commentators warned of the dangers of normalising such language and noted a growing “culture of impunity” among elected representatives. One editorial wrote: “The real test is whether the system will uphold democratic values or allow political intimidation to win.”
A former civil servant, who requested anonymity, stated: “If public servants have to serve under fear, especially women officers who already face systemic challenges, what remains of bureaucratic independence?”
Observers also noted the ideological underpinning of such remarks. “It’s not just a slip of the tongue,” said a retired education department official. “It’s a deliberate attempt to degrade the role of women in governance – and it aligns with a majoritarian mindset that thrives on discrediting merit.”
For now, the BJP MLC continues to remain unapologetic, and the party remains silent. But the consequences may stretch beyond this one incident. “What’s at stake here is not just personal dignity,” said a bureaucrat from the state secretariat, “but the future of our administrative culture. Will it be based on merit and respect – or fear and ideological bullying?”
As calls for action intensify, Karnataka’s civil services and civil society await to see if democratic institutions will uphold their values – or retreat in the face of impunity.
