On Cong-JDS Fallout, Siddaramaiah Uses Kannada Phrase and a Reference to 'Prostitute’; Issues Clarification Later

Mysuru: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has sparked yet another controversy with a sexist remark, this time he compared Janata Dal United (Secular) workers to prostitutes when asked about Karnataka coalition fallout.

Asked for a reaction on how JD(S) is blaming him for fall of the coalition, the senior Congress leader used an old Kannada saying in response which literally translates to - "prostitute who couldn't dance, blamed the floor". He was addressing media at Periapatna in Mysuru on Friday evening.

The Congress leader later issued a clarification and said he meant dancers who can’t dance, not prostitutes. “I meant dancers who can’t dance, complain about the dance floor. By this, I meant the BJP, who else?,” news agency ANI reported him saying.

Meanwhile, the remark has left the JD(S) fuming, with its national general secretary and spokesperson Ramesh Babu saying it reflects Siddaramaiah's frustration. The BJP too condemned Siddaramaiah's remark, saying it reflected his party's culture.

As the matter escalated into a full-blown controversy, Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he was referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party, adding that the Kannada adage he used was very common among people.

"Being a former chief minister, the language he uses is highly improper and very low level. That is the culture of Siddaramaiah and his party," BJP spokesperson S Prakash said.

On Saturday, Siddaramaiah told reporters at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district: "I was referring to the BJP. It is a very common adage in the rural areas around Mysuru. Those who cannot run the government call the floor uneven."

Hitting out at him, Babu said, "Siddaramaiah's statement in Mysuru reflects on his conduct. If a leader loses control over his language, it shows his frustration. "JD(S) is like paradise for those who love it. It doesn't affect it if someone makes a hue and cry against it. It is fact that during the coalition government both Congress and the JD(S) had danced together," he tweeted.

The 14-month long Congress-JDS government collapsed on July 22 after the confidence motion moved by then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was defeated in the assembly. BJP’s BS Yediyurappa sworn in as new Chief Minister subsequently.

(With PTI inputs)