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Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar on Friday replied to the alleged derogatory remarks made against her by Bharatiya Janata Party MLC CT Ravi at the Karnataka legislative assembly, while speaking to reporters at her residence in Belagavi, Karnataka.
Expressing her distress over the alleged remarks, she said that when the BJP leader called Rahul Gandhi a "drug addict," she asked whether him being in accidents made him a murderer. "After completing the protest (against remarks of Amit Shah), we were seated. I, too, was sitting quietly in my seat. At that time, City Ravi called Rahul Gandhi a drug addict. In response, I said, Even you have been in accidents does that make you a murderer..??," she told reporters. While narrating the incident, she said, "Following this, CT Ravi used derogatory words against me. I am also a mother...People look up to me and believe that thousands should enter politics inspired by me." The BJP leader was arrested and brought to the district court by Belagavi police on Friday. Before being taken to court, CT Ravi underwent a medical checkup at the Mutag Health Center in Belagavi. An FIR was filed against him following the complaint made by Minister Hebbalkar. The Karnataka minister said that her relatives, including her daughter-in-law expressed support for her. "My daughter-in-law called me and said, 'We are with you..' The people of my constituency are standing by me," she added. CT Ravi has been suspended from the Legislative Council; Hebbalkar had denied to comment on his suspension. Meanwhile, the BJP leader has also filed a counter-complaint at the Khanapura police station in Belagavi, alleging an attempt to kill him by Congress leaders Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Chamaraja Hattiholi, DK Shivakumar, Saddam, and others. He claimed that police brought him to the Khanapura police station without providing a reason. "Police brought me to Khanapura police station around 8 pm. They didn't tell me in which case they brought me. They're not registering my complaint; they're not even filing a zero FIR. If something happens to me, the Congress government must take responsibility," the BJP leader alleged. Meanwhile Ravi's lawyer, Advocate MB Jiragi has also alleged that despite the BJP leader being arrested under sections 75 and 79 of the BNS, the police have not officially recorded his arrest "CT Ravi has been arrested under sections 75 and 79 of BNS. He has been arrested physically. But so far, we have not been confirmed on record that he has been arrested. De facto, the Karnataka police have already taken him into custody. They took him to various places last night... So far, they have not produced him before the court of law," Jiragi said. State BJP chief BY Vijayendra also condemned the government's handling of the CT Ravi issue, alleging that the police department was pressured by the state government. Vijayendra also claimed that Ravi, who suffered a head injury, was denied medical treatment and basic care, calling it an 'unpardonable' act. He also announced a statewide protest. (ANI)
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