The Akhil Bharatiya Janawadi Mahila Sanghatan (ABJMS) has issued a strong condemnation of BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) N. Ravikumar, denouncing his recent communal remarks directed at Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum. The organisation has demanded an apology from the MLC.
In a statement released by the ABJMS State committee, president Meenakshi Bali, vice-president K. Neela, and general secretary Devi expressed outrage over Mr. Ravikumar’s ‘irresponsible and inflammatory speech’ during a rally held by the BJP in Kalaburagi recently.
“Mr. Ravikumar made communal insinuations, questioning whether the DC is from Pakistan, alleging that the Deputy Commissioner’s office had lost its freedom,” according to the ABJMS.
The ABJMS claimed that Mr. Ravikumar intensified his divisive rhetoric after some members of the crowd clapped during his speech and asked him to repeat his statement.
“This tendency of BJP leaders to target officials based on their caste and religion is deeply embedded in the party’s ideology,” the statement read, recalling a previous instance of a similar statement by another BJP leader who had allegedly referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a decorated army officer, as a terrorist’s sister.
ABJMS asserted that such statements reflect the BJP’s contempt towards women and its pattern of disrespecting people in public service. The organisation has demanded that the BJP take legal action against Mr. Ravikumar and apologise to Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum.
“We insist that Mr. Ravikumar apologise to DC Fouzia Taranum, and that the BJP instil the practice of honouring women serving the nation,” the statement concluded.
Published – May 27, 2025 04:16 pm IST
