Bengaluru, Nov 20: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has faced an unexpected charge over his statement against a female agitator after a group of farmers laid siege to Suvarna Soudha and damaged public property in Belagavi.
Quoting Sections 509 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a Bengaluru-based organisation, Karnataka Karmika Kalyana Prathishtana, has lodged a complaint with DG & IGP Neelamani N Raju, accusing Kumaraswamy of "gesturing or acting intending to outrage the modesty of a woman and intentionally insulting with an intent to provoke breach of the peace (sic)."
However, there is no official confirmation by the DG & IGP's office about accepting the complaint.
According to the complaint, a copy of which is available with coastaldigest.com, the association, based on the television footage and newspaper reports and on behalf of the farmer woman, lodged a complaint through an e-mail directly to the DG & IGP.
The organisation has sought suitable action against the chief minister under the above sections.
Hours after a meeting with sugarcane farmers in Belagavi was cancelled, farmers laid siege to Suvarna Soudha on Sunday.
Among the protesters was local activist Jayashree Gurannavar against whom the chief minister said: "A woman (Jayashree) has criticised me stating that I am not fit to govern the state. How can I be held responsible for some company not paying proper prices for sugarcane four years ago? What is the connection between me and this issue? Where were you sleeping four years ago?"
The statement came in for widespread criticism and may cause trouble in the Monday's Cabinet meeting with Congress ministers expected to raise the issue.
Jayashree had said that police personnel who tried to close the gate, wrapped a chain around her neck. "I am a farmer woman. I am prepared to spill my blood for the cause. The chief minister has gone back on his word," she had remarked.
"I own land at both my parent's and my in-laws' houses. I work in these fields. He (CM) has insulted me for raising my voice for the cause of aggrieved sugarcane farmers," she added.
Farmers organisations and the Opposition BJP have sought an apology from Kumaraswamy.
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