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BJP MLC booked for hurling ‘Pakistani’ slur at Muslim IAS officer

Kalaburagi Police has registered a case against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for purportedly referring Fouzia Taranum, an award winning IAS officer who incidentally is also a Muslim, a “Pakistani”

Tuesday May 27, 2025 5:22 PM, ummid.com News Network

[Fouzia Tarannum has been termed as “an officer of impeccable integrity with an exemplary track record and deep dedication to public service and the State”, by the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association. (File image)]

Bengaluru: Kalaburagi Police has registered a case against BJP MLC N Ravikumar for purportedly referring Fouzia Taranum, an award winning IAS officer who incidentally is also a Muslim, a “Pakistani”.

Fauzia Taranum is currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Kalaburagi. She was honored by the President of India Draupadi Murmu with an award for adopting the Best Election Practices Award for 2024-25.

She has also been termed as “an officer of impeccable integrity with an exemplary track record and deep dedication to public service and the State”, by the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association.

However, the BJP leader Ravikumar while addressing the party’s protest rally on May 24 accused her of working under the influence of the ruling Congress Party and also linked her with Pakistan.

“The Kalaburagi DC office has lost its independence. The DC madam is also listening to what they (Congress) say. I don't know whether the DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here,” he said while addressing the BJP’s 'Kalaburagi Chalo' protest event.

Watch Video

This isn’t just communal. It’s criminal.
BJP MLC Ravikumar called a sincere IAS officer “As-Pakistani” - simply because her name is Fouzia Tarannum.

This hate-fuelled attack on a serving DC is an attack on the Constitution and civil service itself.

Ravikumar is unfit for public… pic.twitter.com/loGWelnLbW

— Rizwan Arshad (@ArshadRizwan) May 27, 2025

"Unacceptable, unjustified"

The BJP MLC’s leader’s comments sparked a huge outcry. Slamming the remarks, the Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association demanded action and unconditional apology.

In a letter posted on social media platform X, the IAS Officers’ Association also described the BJP leader’s comments as “baseless, unjustified and entirely devoid of rationale.”

The association said that such remarks not only malign IAS officers, but also inflict severe mental trauma and amount to harassment in the line of duty.

Demanding an unconditional apology from Ravikumar for the “irresponsible and unacceptable comments”, the IAS officers’’ association urged the authorities to register a case against him under appropriate legal provisions for spreading misinformation and attempting to undermine the dignity of a serving district magistrate.

“Civil servants must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without fear, prejudice or undue pressure,” the letter said, adding that the association will stand by all officers who are targeted unfairly.

Following the outrage, a case was registered against Ravikumar at Kalaburagi Police Station. The Police filed case against the BJP leader based on a complaint by Kalaburagi Samudaya President Dattatraya Ikkalaki.

The FIR includes charges under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, such as Sections 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 224 (threat of injury to public servant), 299 and 302 (outraging religious feelings), 351 (criminal intimidation), 353 (public mischief), and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dattatraya in his complaint also accused Ravikumar of inciting hatred against Muslims and using derogatory language towards police officers, according to The News Minute.

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