In a shocking turn of events, yet another incident of a political leader abusing a woman IAS officer has come to light. The Davangere police have registered an FIR against Harihar MLA B P Harish of the BJP over his alleged insulting remark against Superintendent of Police (SP) Uma Prashanth, on Wednesday. In a highly objectionable remark, Harish alleged that the woman officer was acting like a pet dog of Congress leaders in Davanagere district. A case has been registered against the MLA by KTJ Nagar police under BNS Section 79 and 132 following the complaint by the SP.

What BJP MLA BP Harish Said

BJP MLA BP Harish, speaking at a programme organised by the Reporters’ Guild in Davanagere city yesterday, said, “I am an MLA, but when the SP sees me at functions, she turns her face. At the same time, she waits at the gates for members of the Shamanur family, and behaves like a Pomeranian dog of their household.” He was referring to IPS officer Uma Prashant.

Unfortunately, this is the third such instance where a woman bureaucrat was insulted by a politician in Karnataka in recent months.

The Shamanuru family is a powerful political dynasty in Davanagere and central Karnataka. Its patriarch, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, is a senior Congress leader, a former minister, and one of the party’s oldest serving legislators. His son, SS Mallikarjun, currently serves as the minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture in the Siddaramaiah government.

Past Incidents

In July, BJP MLC N Ravikumar made insulting remarks against Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh after she did not attend to receive a submission from a BJP delegation. Upset over her absence, Ravikumar mocked her by saying that she spends the day working for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and performs her official government duties only at night.