Hariprasad was served the notice after he attacked Siddaramaiah and other party leaders during a BC convention held at Bengaluru.
Senior Congress leader and MLC BK Hariprasad has 10 days to reply to the notice. (Supplied)
The All-India Congress Committee’s (AICC) Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) has served a show cause notice to senior party leader and MLC BK Hariprasad, following a complaint against him for criticising Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
AICC’s Disciplinary Action Committee has asked Hariprasad to reply to the notice in 10 days. The DAC issued the show cause notice to the senior leader on Tuesday, 12 September.
According to sources, “The chief minister himself has complained against BK Hariprasad before AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge for frequently targetting him.”
The party also opposed Hariprasad sharing the stage with BJP and YSR Congress Party leaders at a Backward Classes’ (BC) convention on 9 September, where Ediga, Billava, Namdhari, and Deevara communities, among others, were present.
In the same convention, Hariprasad made certain remarks indirectly targetting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other leaders of the party, and expressed his dissent over the selection for the chief minister and deputy chief minister positions.
Meanwhile, several Cabinet ministers, including Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries MB Patil, who is a Siddaramaiah loyalist, have hit back at Hariprasad for attacking the chief minister.
Three days after the Congress MLC criticised the chief minister in a public forum, AICC’s DAC served Hariprasad with a show cause notice and sought an explanation within 10 days.
“Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) has received a complaint regarding violation of party discipline by MLC BK Hariprasad. He is accused of criticising CM Siddaramaiah publicly and sharing the dais with BJP and YSR Congress Party leaders at a Backward Class conference at Bengaluru on 9 September 2023,” DAC member secretary Anwar, said in a release.
. @INCIndia‘s disciplinary action committee issues showcause notice to Karnataka MLC @HariprasadBK2 over his recent jibes at @CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah.
In the quoted tweet is what Hariprasad had said 👇 https://t.co/tbm2KFLg6Q pic.twitter.com/oUZ3wDEEbd
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) September 12, 2023
The matter was referred to the DAC, which, thereafter, decided to serve a show cause notice to Hariprasad, said Anwar, who is also the AICC General Secretary.
The party has decided to act based on the complaint received from the chief minister, claimed sources in the party.
Addressing the gathering on 9 September, Hariprasad said, “People wearing a Hublot watch and khaki shorts underneath their panche (dhoti) cannot claim to be socialist, and one cannot become Devaraj Urs (former chief minister known for social reforms) by sitting in his car.”
Although he did not mention anyone by name, particularly Siddaramaiah, during his speech, it was quite apparent that the comments were being directed towards Siddaramaiah, considering the references made.
Hariprasad also expressed his displeasure over Dalit leaders like Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara and Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi not being considered by the party high command for the posts of chief minister and deputy chief minister, respectively.
Confirming that he has received the show cause notice, Hariprasad told South First, “I have received the show cause notice from the AICC’s DAC. I will reply to the notice in 10 days. I have held various positions, including AICC General Secretary, in the party.”
“I will explain, in detail, before the committee. I would not like to assert anything more than this. The Cabinet minister’s response to my comments in the backward classes convention will be looked after by the state disciplinary committee,” added Hariprasad.
Several ministers, who are loyalists of Siddaramaiah, have hit back at Hariprasad for criticising the chief minister. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah himself has refrained from commenting on the AICC’s DAC serving the notice to Hariprasad.
Minister MB Patil told reporters, “Hariprasad is a senior leader of the party. He has held various positions, including AICC’s General Secretary, in the party. His statements condescending Siddaramaiah will not benefit him.”
“The national leaders of the party will not sideline such incidents. They will initiate action against senior legislator Hariprasad. He is a senior leader and could have discussed it within the party, instead of criticising the chief minister publicly,” Patil cautioned.
Taking dig at Hariprasad, Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi told reporters in Koppal, “Who said that Siddaramaiah will become Devaraj Urs? Did Siddaramaiah make such statements? In one of the department events, it was me who had said that Siddaramaiah is the second Devaraj Urs.”
“Siddaramaiah said that ‘he can never become Devaraj Urs’. Why we compared the chief minister to Urs is because the programmes of both the chief ministers were aimed at the development of the oppressed and backward class communities,” charged Tangadagi.
These developments hinted that in just three months after coming to power, the Congress party is facing dissent within the party. Several senior leaders are openly making statements against the chief minister and party high command for not considering them for Cabinet positions.
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