CM Siddaramaiah makes slapping gesture at police officer after losing cool over disruption in rally

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah landed in controversy on Monday after making a slapping gesture at the additional superintendent of police (SP) out of frustration over a disruption at his rally in Belagavi.

Siddaramaiah, who was visibly upset, summoned the police officer on to the stage. He addressed him in singular, "Come here, who is the SP? What are you doing?"

The disruption was caused allegedly by a few women BJP workers, who were sloganeering against the state government and the chief minister and waved a black cloth.

Reacting to the disruptions, the Congress workers raised slogans in support of Siddaramaiah and the state government before the Police detained and took away the protestors.


Siddaramaiah faced fierce criticism from the BJP when, while speaking in Mysuru on Saturday, he stated that India should not rush into war with Pakistan and instead focus on strengthening security measures.

“We are not in favour of war. There should be peace, and the central government must ensure people feel secure," he said, adding that strict security steps should have been implemented in the region.

The Karnataka CM, however, on Sunday accused the BJP and the media of misquoting him with a sinister spin.

"I never said no to war against terrorism and Pakistan... What I said was that war should be the last resort, and that war is not a solution for everything. These BJPians are fools and are misquoting me. So is the media," he said.

Attacking Siddaramaiah, state opposition leader R Ashoka tagged him to an alleged Pakistani media house that carried chief minister Siddaramaiah's remarks as part of a report on voices in India against war with Pakistan.

Calling him "Pakistan Ratna," Ashoka went on to ridicule the CM, saying India's neighbour would give him "Nishan-e-Pakistan," its highest civilian award, for his "friendliness."