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The MLA slammed the forest range officer, identified as Shweta, for being absent from the meeting due to pregnancy. The routine administrative discussion immediately turned controversial when the Congress MLA representing Channagiri used the occasion to publicly lecture her on maternity leave.
A video of the comments quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation from women’s rights groups. When the MLA along with other officials learned that the forest range officer would not come, he asked, “If she is pregnant, she should take leave. Why does she need to work? She wants to earn money, but when called for meetings, she wants to take leave. Is there no shame in it?”
“There are maternity leaves, right? Till the last date, she wants salary and extras, but as soon as you ask for some work she cannot come to the meeting. Pregnancy is an excuse; one should feel ashamed. Every time it is the same excuse. ‘I am pregnant, I am going to the doctor’,” said Basavaraj.
He further demanded, “Immediate action should be taken against him.”
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from women’s rights groups, who have posted visuals criticizing the MLA for his sexist remarks.
The minister has not yet commented on this controversy.
This comes days after the Siddaramaiah-led government approved the Period Leave Policy 2025.
Earlier this month, the state cabinet had approved a policy to grant one paid menstrual leave per month to women working in government offices, private companies and industrial sectors.
Before the Congress MLA’s remarks, Karnataka Congress leader RV Deshpande had sparked outrage with remarks considered insensitive towards women.
In response to a journalist’s question on the lack of a hospital in Joida, he said, “When your time (to have a child) comes, I will build a hospital for you.”