Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah landed in fresh controversy Monday after a video of him angrily confronting a senior police officer during a public event in Belagavi surfaced online. “You, whoever you are, come here, what were you doing?” Siddaramaiah is heard saying in a sharp tone.

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The footage, which has gone viral on social media, captures a tense moment where Siddaramaiah summons Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Narayan Bharamani onto the stage, visibly upset over the handling of a nearby protest. As the officer approaches, the Chief Minister appears to lash out verbally before raising his hand in frustration — a gesture many perceived as an attempted slap. He stopped just short of making contact.

The confrontation reportedly stemmed over a protest led by BJP Mahila Morcha workers near the venue. ASP Bharamani had been tasked with maintaining order, but the demonstration seemingly disrupted the Chief Minister’s public address, drawing his ire.

The incident sparked an immediate political firestorm. The Janata Dal (Secular) was among the first to condemn Siddaramaiah’s behavior, accusing him of arrogance and disrespect. JDS noted that a CM’s tenure lasts only 5 years, however a government official serves the public for decades and termed the incident as an “unforgivable crime.”

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Previous remarks also under fire

This latest controversy comes just days after Siddaramaiah faced backlash for comments about the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In that instance, he had said, “War is not necessary,” drawing criticism from those who accused him of downplaying national security threats. He later clarified that he was “not against action” but believed war should be a “last resort.”

He stated that his intention was to advocate for peace and stronger internal security.