Overview
- Shivaganga Basavaraj said he stands by his comments, arguing he only told the Range Forest Officer to take maternity leave if she could not attend duty and insisting he used no abusive language.
- The remarks were made during a Karnataka Development Programme review in Channagiri and were captured on video that includes lines such as “Pregnancy is an excuse” and suggestions the officer wanted salary without attending meetings.
- Basavaraj directed officials at the meeting to issue a notice to the officer and escalate the matter to higher authorities for an explanation.
- Footage of the exchange circulated widely online, drawing condemnation from women’s rights groups and criticism from opposition parties, with calls for accountability and mandatory sensitivity training.
- The controversy comes days after the state approved one paid menstrual leave day per month, and follows earlier criticism of Congress leader RV Deshpande; no apology or formal disciplinary action has been reported.