Overview

• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was recorded raising his hand in an apparent slap gesture toward Additional SP Narayana Baramani during a Congress rally in Belagavi on April 28, 2025.
• The incident occurred after BJP women protesters disrupted the rally by waving black flags, prompting Siddaramaiah to summon the officer on stage and reprimand him for security lapses.
• The widely circulated video has intensified political criticism, with the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) condemning the act as disrespectful and demanding an unconditional apology.
• Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje questioned the message Siddaramaiah's actions send, while Congress leaders defended the Chief Minister, framing his reaction as justified under the circumstances.
• This controversy follows closely on the heels of Siddaramaiah’s earlier remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack, which also drew national scrutiny and political backlash.