High drama and violent scenes marred a government event in Karnataka's Koppal district on Monday, as a heated argument between Union and state ministers escalated into chair-throwing by agitated Congress workers. The incident occurred during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a railway overpass in Hitnal village, the hometown of local MP and MLA.
Protocol Snub Sparks Verbal Altercation
The trouble began when district minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Koppal MP Rajashekhar Hitnal, and MLA Raghavendra Hitnal arrived at the venue for the event, which was to be presided over by Union Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna. The Congress leaders and workers were immediately incensed to find that their names were conspicuously absent from the banners and promotional material on the stage, despite the event being held in their own constituency.
A verbal altercation erupted between Minister Tangadagi, the Hitnal legislators, and Union Minister Somanna. The Congress contingent alleged a serious breach of protocol and disrespect. "The state government pays taxes to the Union government and should not be disrespected," asserted Tangadagi, capturing the mood of his party workers. Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal had to intervene to prevent the initial argument from spiraling further.
Event Descends Into Chaos with Chair-Throwing
As tensions failed to subside, the protest took a violent turn. Expressing their anger, Congress workers began chanting slogans and throwing chairs towards the stage where Minister Somanna was seated. Security personnel swiftly formed a protective cordon around the Union Minister to ensure his safety. The protesters then escalated their demonstration by sitting in front of Somanna's car, physically preventing the event from proceeding as planned.
The omission of names was particularly galling for the local leaders as Hitnal village is the native place of both MP Rajshekhar Hitnal and MLA Raghavendra Hitnal. Despite their names being inscribed on the foundation stone itself, the leaders refused to approach the stage due to the snub on the banners.
Ministers Trade Accusations After Abrupt End
Faced with the unruly protests, Union Minister Somanna concluded the ceremony in just 10 minutes and hastily left the venue. Addressing the allegations later, Somanna denied any intentional mistake. "When minister Tangadagi first commented on this matter, I felt uneasy. However, all representatives' names are on the foundation stone," he stated. When questioned specifically about the stage banners, he cited central government protocol, saying, "At the central level, only Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name is used."
Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, however, remained defiant and issued a strong warning. He accused the BJP of autocracy, stating, "BJP's autocracy won't be tolerated in Koppal. BJP members are behaving like Saddam Hussein." He condemned Somanna for referring to his group as a 'gang' and emphasized that the people of Koppal would not tolerate such disrespect towards elected representatives.
The railway overpass at the center of the controversy is being constructed on the Hitnal-Munirabad-Ginigera route, replacing LC No 77, at an estimated cost of Rs 27 crore. The project, intended for public welfare, was unfortunately overshadowed by the political fracas, highlighting the deep-seated tensions between the ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP-led central government.
