Violation Of MCC: FIR Against Shobha Karandlaje Over DMK's Complaint (image:.instagram.com/shobhabjp)As per the directive of Election Commission of India (ECI), the District Election Officer (DEO) of Bengaluru has registered an FIR against BJP leader and Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday.
The Commission took action based on the complaint received from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), ruling political party in Tamil Nadu, alleging the Minister of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and the Representation of People Act. The FIR was lodged at the Cottonpet Police station in Bengaluru.
The EC officials had directed the DMK’s complaint to the CEO Karnataka and demanded “immediate appropriate action”. Subsequently, the CEO Karnataka said in the tweet on Thursday: “As per ECI direction, DEO Bangalore has filed an FIR against Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister and MP u/s 123 (3A), 125 and 123 (3) of RP Act at Cottonpet Police Station of Bengaluru on 21.03.2024.”
As per ECI direction, DEO Bangalore has filed an FIR against Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister and MP u/s 123 (3A), 125 and 123 (3) of RP Act at Cottonpet Police Station of Bengaluru on 21.03.2024.
— Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka (@ceo_karnataka) March 21, 2024
Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday slammed the Congress-led government in Karnataka over the “deteriorating law and order” scenario in the state. Citing the recent Rameshwaram Cafe blast, she allegedly stated that people from Tamil Nadu were planting bombs in the state.
“People who come from Tamil Nadu plant bombs here, people coming from Delhi chant Pakistan Zindabad slogans. People coming from Kerala throw acid on women,” Times of India quoted as BJP leader is saying.
Her remarks invited sharp criticism from various fronts. As the controversy got escalated, the BJP minister later has issued public apology on X handle. She said that she is retracting her previous comments, and wrote: “I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows.”
To my Tamil brothers & sisters,
I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some – and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest,
1/2— Shobha Karandlaje (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ShobhaBJP) March 19, 2024
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a sitting MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur, Shobha Karandlaje, will be fielding from Bangalore North.