A viral video shows Krishnappa, the President of the Kannada Abhimani Sangha, wiping his hands on the Indian Tricolour after distributing sweets at an event. BJP MLA CK Ramamurthy is seen standing beside Krishnappa during the incident.
Published May 13, 2025 | 5:34 PM ⚊ Updated May 13, 2025 | 5:34 PM
The video footage shows Ramamurthy standing beside Krishnappa during the incident.
Synopsis: A case has been registered in Bengaluru against Karnataka BJP MLA CK Ramamurthy and others after a video showed the President of the Kannada Abhimani Sanhga wiping his hands on the Indian national flag during an event on 8 May. The incident has sparked controversy just days before the state BJP is set to launch its state-wide, ‘apolitical’ Tiranga Yatra celebrating Operation Sindoor.
As the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to launch a state-wide Tiranga Yatra from 15 to 23 May to honour the armed forces, police in Bengaluru have registered a case against BJP leaders and the President of the Kannada Abhimani Sangha for allegedly insulting the national flag.
A suo motu complaint has led to a First Information Report being filed at Tilak Nagar Police Station under Section 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The incident occurred on 8 May during an event organised to celebrate the armed forces’ Operation Sindoor, which targeted reported terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April.
An FIR has been filed against @BJP4Karnataka leaders and Kannada Abhimani Sangh President Krishnappa after a viral video showed them allegedly wiping hands on the Indian national flag during a sweet distribution event in Bengaluru on 8 May pic.twitter.com/ndMiggwZWL
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) May 13, 2025
Footage of the event, now viral on social media, shows BJP MLA CK Ramamurthy and Krishnappa, the President of the Kannada Abhimani Sangha, distributing sweets. In the video, Krishnappa is seen wiping his hands on the Indian Tricolour after handing out the sweets.
“On 8 May 2025, a sweet distribution programme was organised by Kannada Abhimani Sangha near Jayanagar 9th Block, Balamuri Vinayaka Subramanya Temple. MLA of Jayanagar Assembly Constituency, CK Ramamurthy, and BJP leaders participated in this programme. Krishnappa, the President of the Kannada Abhimani Sangha, who was next to Ramamurthy and others, insulted the national flag of India by wiping his hands with it after sharing sweets,” the FIR states.
The complaint also notes that bystanders did not intervene or attempt to stop the act.
In response to the case, MLA Ramamurthy said he did not see Krishnappa wiping his hands on the flag.
“Let me be clear, the FIR copy is not against me. It has been filed against a person named Krishnappa,” he told South First.
“I have not seen him wiping hands on the flag. I was busy distributing sweets to people.”
The video footage shows Ramamurthy standing beside Krishnappa during the incident.
The controversy comes just days ahead of the BJP state unit’s planned launch of the Tiranga Yatra, which the party says is intended to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor and express solidarity with the armed forces.
“The country launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan. The operation successfully demolished terror infrastructure and resulted in the death of many terrorists,” BJP State President BY Vijayendra said at a press conference on 13 May.
“The event is apolitical. It involves people from all walks of life, including ex-servicemen, farmers, students, women’s groups and many more. The event will be held in Belagavi and Mangaluru on 15 May, and the next day, on 16 May, the programme will be held in all district centres.”
The Bengaluru leg of the yatra is scheduled for 15 May, from Sirur playground to Malleshwara 18th Cross, and from 18 to 23 May it will be conducted at the taluk level.
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said that the event was apolitical and criticised the ruling Congress for “playing politics with the issue”.
“We request everybody to participate in the Tiranga Yatra irrespective of political parties. This yatra is to express solidarity with our armed forces. They have done extremely well in teaching a lesson to Pakistan. It is a message to the world that we will not step back if you trouble us. We have decided not to display symbols of any political parties except the national flag, the Tiranga,” he said.
Responding to posters released by the Indian Youth Congress featuring former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her role during the 1971 war, Ashoka added:
“Congress has to stop playing politics around this issue. Have we questioned their leaders’ decision to leave Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Pakistan? Their improper share of water in the Indus Water Treaty, why they did not retaliate after the Mumbai attack? We have not questioned what happened in the past.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
