'Pregnancy is an excuse': Karnataka MLA’s remark against woman officer sparks outrage

Public anger erupted after Karnataka Congress MLA from Channagiri, Shivaganga Basavaraj, reportedly made derogatory remarks against a pregnant Range Forest Officer during a government review meeting.

Public anger erupted after Karnataka Congress MLA from Channagiri, Shivaganga Basavaraj, reportedly made derogatory remarks against a pregnant Range Forest Officer during a government review meeting.

The incident occurred during the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting in Channagiri, where a woman officer was absent citing her pregnancy. Sources said the MLA questioned her commitment to duty and allegedly made sexist comments, accusing her of taking leave while continuing to collect her salary.

Basavaraj, the Congress MLA from Channagiri, questioned the forest range officer, Shweta, for not attending a work meeting - and then gave a lecture on maternity leave. The meeting over which the Congress MLA lost his cool was linked to a quarterly review of the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP).

When he came to know the forest range officer wouldn't come, he asked in public, "If she is pregnant, she should take a leave. Why does she need to work? She wants to make money, but also when called for meetings she wants to take leave. Is there no shame?"

Women rights activists shared the visuals and criticised the MLA for twisting a complex and nuanced matter into a sexist punchline. Basavaraj has not commented on the controversy yet. The matter is likely to escalate with the Opposition BJP looking to corner the Siddaramaiah government over issues linked to women.