Security personnel outside Karnataka Bhavan, where aides of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar clashed amid rising tensions within the Congress leadership.
For allegedly hitting him with a shoe at Karnataka Bhavan, H Anjaneya has filed a legal complaint against C Mohan Kumar. An ugly scene broke out at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi on July 22 between aides of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, thus garnering attention on a political front. The incident has ushered in yet another chapter of tension for the ruling Congress party in Karnataka.
"My honor and dignity have been damaged by the shoe beating I received. According to Anjanaya's complaint, which was reported by news agency PTI, "conduct a criminal trial against him (Kumar) and give me justice."
Anjanaya writes, "He threatened to hit me with a shoe in the office chamber in front of everyone." While carrying out his responsibilities as the deputy chief minister's special officer, Anjanaya noted, he was worried about his personal safety. In his letter, Anjanaya issued a warning: "Kumar will be held accountable if an accident occurs."
H. Anjaneya, OSD to Deputy CM Shivakumar, lodged a police complaint against C. Mohan Kumar, OSD to CM Siddaramaiah, for alleged physical assault. Anjaneya claims the clash began when Kumar struck him with a shoe and verbally abused him inside the Bhavan premises.
In a written complaint to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka and Resident Commissioner in Delhi, Anjaneya claimed the assault was unprovoked and humiliated him, stating "I have been beaten with a shoe and my honour and dignity have been hurt". He demanded immediate legal action and warned that if such conduct was not controlled, his personal safety was at risk.
Mohan Kumar denies the attack on Anjaneya and stated Anjaneya had acted in a highly unfitting manner and not limited to just misbehaving with women staff. He stated he was being disciplinary in nature toward Anjaneya and did not physically abuse him.
On the face of it, the scuffle may just be administrative, but political observers regard it as a manifestation of the ongoing power tussle between the incumbent Chief Minister and his Deputy. Karnataka's political landscape has been dominated for long by both leaders and public spats among their aides speak volumes for the deeper fissures that run through the state Congress government.
The BJP wasted no time in seeing the incident as proof of a dysfunctional government and a deterioration in discipline under Congress rule. The missing CCTV footage from the premises adds to questions regarding detention of events and an internal probe has been ordered by the Karnataka government to find out the facts.
The complaint has reached the Resident Commissioner, Imkongla Jamir, while Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh has asked for a detailed report on it.
As the probe unfurls, this incident is not only a bureaucratic embarrassment but also a flashpoint between the balances of power between two of Karnataka's fragile leaders. Since the resident commissioner's office has stated that it will handle the complaint in accordance with due process, an official inquiry is anticipated.
