Karnataka minister slippers remark
A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after state minister S S Mallikarjun was allegedly caught on camera using abusive language against BJP MLA B P Harish and asking villagers to “beat him with slippers”.
The incident took place during an interaction with farmers who had approached the minister over their demand for irrigation water from the Bhadra reservoir. The remarks have triggered a sharp political reaction from the BJP.
According to report, a group of farmers from the Harihar region met Mallikarjun, who is the district minister in charge, to raise concerns over the availability of water.
The farmers reportedly told the minister that there was not enough water even for drinking and for their cattle. They said they had come to meet him on the advice of Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish.
The reference to Harish appears to have triggered an angry response from the minister.
During the interaction, Mallikarjun allegedly used derogatory language against Harish and told the villagers to “beat him with slippers”.
The minister also reportedly objected when the farmers referred to Harish as “Anna”, a term used to address an elder brother or respected senior. He asked the villagers not to show such respect to the BJP MLA, according to the report.
The exchange was captured on camera, and the video has since become the centre of the political controversy.
Responding to the remarks, Harish accused the minister of focusing on personal attacks instead of addressing the farmers’ concerns.
The BJP MLA said that rather than properly engaging with the farmers over their water-related problems, the minister resorted to abusive language against him. Harish also said that the people would respond to such behaviour.
Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra also criticised Mallikarjun over the incident.
Vijayendra alleged that the Davanagere in-charge minister had used unparliamentary language against Harihar MLA B P Harish and had also made abusive remarks about his parents.
He argued that the incident was not merely an insult to an individual MLA but also an affront to the people represented by Harish. Vijayendra warned that using such language simply because someone is in power could have political consequences, saying that the people would respond in the future.
The controversy is particularly notable because it began with a basic public issue: access to water.
The farmers had approached the minister seeking irrigation water from the Bhadra reservoir, while also highlighting shortages affecting drinking water and livestock. Instead of remaining focused on the issue, the interaction turned into a political confrontation after the minister’s alleged remarks about the BJP MLA.
The incident has therefore raised two separate questions in Karnataka: how the farmers’ water concerns will be addressed, and whether elected representatives should use such language during public interactions.
With the video drawing political attention, the episode is likely to add another layer to the ongoing confrontation between the ruling side and the opposition in Karnataka.
© Copyright 2026, cloudTV. All Rights Reserved
