As seen in a viral video released from the Bommanahalli war room in Bengaluru, BJP MLA Satish Reddy can be seen arguing with a health official — all while his aides are seen manhandling the IAS officer, just days after ‘raiding’ the BBMP South Zone COVID War Room.
Reddy was one of the three BJP MLAs who gave a press conference along with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday, alleging a bed-blocking scam in the BBMP. Apparently, the feud began when the IAS officer refused to hand over beds to the MLA’s representatives.
In the video, Satish Reddy can be seen leaning against a railing in a corridor and waving his hand at the health official, identified as IAS officer V Yashavantha, while a woman who is reportedly his aide pushes the health official multiple times. Satish Reddy makes no attempt to stop the woman, as the health official is pushed back in the crowded corridor where several people are heard screaming at the officer.
Condemning the incident, the IAS Officers’ Association, Karnataka said, “Shri V Yashavantha was part of a team of officers who had obtained additional hospital beds from private hospitals. By initiating action in accordance with the law, the team of officers had obtained beds from the private hospitals. When pressure was brought upon the officer to yield the additional beds to the representatives of the Honorable Member of the Legislative Assembly (Satish Reddy), this was not agreed to. As a result of this, Shri V Yashavantha was manhandled and abused in public, with a video available as evidence of the incident.”
“The Association strongly protests against the incident and requests that police action should be taken in accordance with law by booking an FIR against those found guilty of manhandling the officer and preventing him from the discharge of his duties,” the statement said.
After the videos went viral, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted demanding the arrest of Satish Reddy and his supporters for disrupting the functioning of the war room.
