Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has landed himself and by extension, the Congress party in yet another embarrassing controversy after a shocking public display of arrogance and disrespect towards a senior police officer. In a widely circulated video from an event in Belagavi, Siddaramaiah was seen summoning Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Narayan Bharamani onto the stage, berating him like a petty dictator, and in a fit of anger, raising his hand as if to strike the officer. Though he stopped short of slapping the officer, the damage was already done. The sheer audacity with which a Chief Minister treated a uniformed officer someone assigned to ensure his very security exposes the deep-seated arrogance and feudal mindset that has become synonymous with Congress leadership.
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from disruptions caused by BJP women workers protesting near the venue. Instead of maintaining composure and dignity, Siddaramaiah chose to humiliate a government officer in full public view. His behavior sends a chilling message about Congress’ style of governance one where officers are treated not as professionals serving the public, but as personal servants of political masters.
The Janata Dal (Secular) rightly blasted Siddaramaiah’s actions, calling it an “unforgivable crime.” Their statement, noting that while a Chief Minister’s term is temporary, a public servant’s duty spans decades, strikes at the heart of the issue. Power is fleeting, but respect for the rule of law and government institutions should be eternal something Siddaramaiah and his party seem to have forgotten. This ugly episode follows close on the heels of Siddaramaiah’s earlier controversial remark in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, where he blithely declared that “war is not necessary.” At a time when India mourns the brutal murder of 26 innocent people, mostly Hindus, at the hands of Pakistan-backed terrorists, Siddaramaiah’s naïve lecture on diplomacy exposed Congress’ chronic weakness on issues of national security. His later attempt at “clarification” fooled no one it was clear he sought to whitewash Pakistan’s crimes in the name of peace, much like his party’s historic blunders on national defense.
Siddaramaiah’s behavior in Belagavi and his reckless comments on terror attacks are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader Congress pattern disdain for ordinary citizens, disregard for India’s security, and an obsession with appeasement politics. In their hunger for votes and power, Congress leaders seem willing to disrespect officers, undermine the morale of security forces, and insult the sentiments of patriotic Indians. At a time when India demands strong leadership, Congress and its top faces like Siddaramaiah are proving once again why the party is increasingly irrelevant, arrogant, and disconnected from the ground reality.
