Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar Monday released a video clip to the media where BJP legislator C T Ravi is heard using an objectionable word against her at the Legislative Council.
The video came a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that there was audio and video evidence to show that the BJP MLC had used a derogatory word against his Cabinet colleague.
Speaking to reporters at Belagavi, Hebbalkar said she would continue her legal battle against Ravi and accused him of lowering the dignity of the upper house of the state legislature. The objectionable remark, she said, was made when Congress legislators were protesting the insult meted out to Dr B R Ambedkar by Union Minister Amit Shah.
“Why did you raise (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi’s name when we were doing the Satyagraha? Why were you dancing in front of me saying ‘drug addict Rahul Gandhi, drug addict Rahul Gandhi? Should I be silent when you drag our leaders’ names to such a level?” she asked.
In response to Ravi’s attack on Rahul Gandhi, Laxmi Hebbalkar said she had asked whether Ravi can be called a “murderer for killing three people in an accident.” The derogatory word was used by the BJP MLC then, she said, releasing a clip of the exchange that took place on the floor of the Legislative Council last Thursday.
Hebbalkar said she would write to the President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident, and given a chance would also meet the Prime Minister to explain her ordeal. “I will continue my legal battle against him,” she said, adding that everyone present in the state legislature had heard the word used by Ravi. “Four opposition legislators even apologised to me that day,” the minister said.
The alleged use of the abusive word had triggered a row and the police arrested Ravi last Thursday following a complaint by the minister. C T Ravi was released on bail later, following which he claimed that the police had “conspired to encounter him” over the issue.
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