New Delhi: The Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association strongly condemned the remarks on a senior Muslim officer by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and chief whip of the Opposition in the state legislative council, N. Ravikumar, who had said that she “may have come from Pakistan”.
The remarks were made against Fouzia Taranum, the deputy commissioner and district magistrate of Kalaburagi district.
An FIR has now been lodged by the police in Kalaburagi against Ravikumar for his remarks.
Posted on X Monday, a letter by the association read, “Ms. Fouzia Taranum, IAS is an officer of impeccable integrity with an exemplary track record and deep dedication to public service and the State. Remarks made by Ravikumar against her are baseless, unjustified and entirely devoid of rationale.”
Such remarks not only malign IAS officers, but also inflict severe mental trauma and amount to harassment in the line of duty, the letter added.
We strongly condemn the remarks made by Shri Ravi Kumar, MLC, against @DCKalaburagi @Fouzia_Taranum at a public function. DC’s integrity & commitment to work is impeccable & her dedication to public service is irrefutable. IASOA will stand by officers who are targeted unjustly. pic.twitter.com/9HDUOCZLYW
— IAS Officers’ Association, Karnataka (@IASOAKarnataka) May 26, 2025
The association went on to demand an unconditional apology from the BJP MLC for his “irresponsible and unacceptable comments”, urging authorities to register a case against him under relevant provisions “for the deliberate dissemination of misinformation and for attempting to denigrate the stature of (an) officer holding the responsible office of District Magistrate”.
Civil servants must be allowed to function without fear, prejudice and pressure, said the letter, which was also shared by the all-India IAS Association on X.
Incidentally, this is the second time in just two weeks that the all-India association has taken a stand against the harassment of a civil servant.
On 11 May, the IAS Association had condemned the barrage of online hate and harassment faced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after India announced a ceasefire with Pakistan. “Unwarranted personal attacks on civil servants performing their duties with integrity are deeply regrettable. We reaffirm our commitment to uphold the dignity of public service,” the association had posted on X.
In the latest instance, while addressing a public gathering in Kalaburagi as part of the “Kalaburagi Chalo” campaign on 24 May, Ravikumar had said, “I don’t know whether the Kalaburagi DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Looking at your applause, it seems like the DC has indeed come from Pakistan.”
The remarks immediately created a political controversy with Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, condemning the BJP legislator’s remarks. “People who talk this way about their own fellow citizens, can we even call them real Indians? He himself is anti-social,” he said.
Tarannum, who has not spoken on the controversy yet, was one of the 22 recipients of Best Electoral Practices awards given in recognition of outstanding contribution towards election management, security management, voter education and inclusivity during the 2024 Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections in 2023.
The BJP MLC’s comments come close on the heels of Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah similarly targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior officer part of India’s Operation Sindoor. A “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan had been chosen by the Prime Minister to lead the response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah had said.
While the minister went on to face severe backlash for his comments from various quarters, including the Supreme Court, the BJP or the MP government have not yet reprimanded him.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)