From Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 6: Former Chief Minister and JD(S)-Congress coalition committee chairman Siddaramaiah is facing flak for his controversial remark, which is described in social media circles as the most insensitive remark that he "is scared of people sporting kumkum on their foreheads."
Siddararmaiah made the remark while speaking at an event to inaugurate the rejuvenation of a lake in Bagalkot’s Badamiin Bagalkot on Tuesday. He confessed that he was afraid of anyone who wears tilaks on their forehead.
It may be remarked that in January, the former chief minister courted a controversy by snatching the microphone from a woman in a public gathering at a public meeting. Siddaramaiah said, “You are wearing that kumkum, will you do the work properly? I am scared of people who wear such kumkum."
"You have to do the work well and complete it as per the schedule. I don’t know I have this fear about people who wear such long tilakas on their forehead,” he remarked. During the event, Siddaramaiah was instructing the tahsildar and local officials to complete the rejuvenation of Agasthya Lake as soon as possible. “Who is the contractor?," Siddaramaiah reportedly asked.
When the officials introduced the contractor, the former Chief Minister asked him to complete the work on time.
The contractor was wearing a tilak, which the former Chief Minister noticed and remarked: “You know those people who wear tilaks, (apparently referring to members of Hindutva outfits) I am scared of people who wear tilaks.”
Reacting to Siddaramaiah’s statement, BJP MLA C T Ravi accused the former Chief Minister of hating Hindus.
“Congress leader Siddaramaiah says he is scared of people wearing tilak. Siddaramaiah is wearing tilak. Do you hate Hindus so much Siddaramaiah avare?” the BJP leader tweeted, attaching several photos of Siddaramaiah in which he is seen wearing a tilak.
Many people have posted pictures of Congress national President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi wearing tilaks.