‘IAF officer’s allegations against Karnataka and Kannadigas baseless’: CM Siddaramaiah reacts to Bengaluru road rage case

Karnataka CM condemns road rage incident, defends Kannadigas' respect for all, warns against taking law into own hands.

Kannadigas are a people proud of their mother tongue, but they are not arrogant. They are not intolerant to attack or abuse others over the issue of language, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in response to the road rage incident in Bengaluru.

A day after videos of the scuffle between call centre employee Vikas Kumar and IAF officer Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose went viral on social media, the CM in a post on X, took exception to the “unfounded allegations” Mr. Bose had made against Karnataka and Kannadigas. He called it an attempt to “hurt the self-respect” of Kannadigas.

“The culture of the Kannada land is one that treats all those who come and settle here from different corners of the country with respect, and loves them as Kannadigas. History is proof of this,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

The CM also hit out at national media outlets for running unverified news. “It is truly regrettable that the national media, forgetting its responsibility and professionalism, has tarnished the dignity of the entire state of Karnataka by publishing baseless allegations made by someone. This has hurt the sentiments of every Kannadiga,” he added.

However, the CM also warned the people of Karnataka from giving into provocations and taking the law into their hands. Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “The government in Karnataka is elected by Kannadigas. I have ordered the Police Commissioner to take appropriate legal action against the culprits, whoever they may be and whatever their position, in connection with yesterday’s incident. The State government has taken the case very seriously and is committed to ensuring justice to the wronged person.”

The duo engaged in a fistfight in public near C.V. Raman Nagar in east Bengaluru following an episode of road rage. Mr. Bose later put up a video message on social media accusing Vikas Kumar of assaulting him with a key and a stone, and “hurling abuses at him in Kannada”. Following this, the police initially arrested Vikas Kumar and recorded his statement.

However, after verifying the CCTV footage and recordings of the incidents from bystanders, it was allegedly revealed that Mr. Bose had also attacked and assaulted Vikas. A case of attempt to murder was booked against Mr. Bose after Vikas filed a counter-complaint.