Bengaluru: The IAS Officers’ Association of Karnataka has formally petitioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding legal action, a formal censure resolution, and an unconditional apology from BJP MLC N Ravikumar for his recent remarks against Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh.
The Association called the comments an attack on the dignity of the state’s highest civil office, saying it reflected a disturbing pattern of political intimidation of civil servants. They urged the government to safeguard the neutrality and safety of administrative officers from unwarranted political interference and public disparagement.
Top Bureaucrats Submit Letter to CM
A delegation of senior IAS officers — including Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy & Water Resources); Pankaj Kumar Pandey, MD of KPTCL; Khushboo Goel Chowdhary, MD of KSSIDC; and Cauvery B B, Secretary to the Government — met with CM Siddaramaiah and submitted a letter of condemnation on behalf of the Association.
The letter condemned MLC Ravikumar’s comments and called for swift action to restore the sanctity of civil service. “This is not just an attack on an individual but on the institution she represents,” the letter reportedly read.
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Pattern of Disparaging Remarks, Say Officers
The Association cited what it called a “disturbing pattern of behavior” by some BJP leaders, pointing to recent disparaging remarks made against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum. The letter expressed solidarity with both Shalini Rajneesh and Fouzia, urging the state government to protect officers from targeted harassment.
BJP President Questions ‘Selective Outrage’
Reacting sharply, Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra accused the IAS Officers’ Association of selective silence, pointing to past incidents allegedly involving CM Siddaramaiah. He referenced an incident where Siddaramaiah purportedly attempted to slap a senior police officer at a public event in Belagavi, and another where he allegedly told a Deputy Commissioner to “get up” in a disrespectful tone.
“The Association was silent then. Why this selective concern? People are watching,” Vijayendra said.
DVS Urges Politicians to Speak Responsibly
Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader D V Sadananda Gowda distanced himself from the specifics of the controversy but offered a word of caution to his own party.
“Our elected representatives must learn to speak more thoughtfully. This kind of talk has embarrassed us multiple times recently,” he said, underlining the importance of responsible public communication.
Political-Civil Service Friction in Spotlight
The incident adds to a growing trend of tense relations between political figures and civil servants, raising concerns over institutional decorum and the autonomy of the bureaucracy. With both sides trading accusations, the episode has sparked a debate on the boundaries of political criticism and the protection of public servants.
