‘Chhi thoo’, ‘not afraid of goondagiri’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s comments aimed at BJP MLCs spark row

The CM resorted to a lengthy response about the issue, starting with the decline in state’s share under the 15th Finance Commission and noted how the Karnataka government has protested the issue.

The special grants promised to Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission of around Rs 11,495 crore was also denied by the Centre. Apart from that, not even a single rupee of the Rs 5,300 crore set aside by the Centre for the Upper Bhadra Project in the 2023-24 budget was released till date, Siddaramaiah said in his reply.

As the reply dragged on, BJP MLCs protested. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary asked how the CM was allowed to make a speech so long when a standard reply during the Question Hour could not exceed four minutes. Other BJP MLCs too backed Poojary, while Congress MLCs stepped in to defend the Siddaramaiah, causing a din in the Upper House of state legislature.

During the ruckus, a few BJP MLCs raised the slogan “Bhaashana Beda” (we don’t want a speech), resulting in an angry response from the Treasury benches. The CM too reacted and said, “I am not afraid of Goondagiri.” Addressing the Opposition, Siddaramaiah added that the people of Karnataka are lashing out at them and saying “Chhi, thoo (a comment used to show disgust)”.

As the ruckus continued over CM’s reply, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti adjourned the House for a few minutes.

When the session resumed, BJP legislators objected to the use of the word ‘goonda’ by Siddaramaiah and demanded an apology. “We are hurt by his words. How can he call us ‘goondas’ and use words such as ‘chhi, thoo’? We have not heard such language from a CM in the past and the CM should express regret for his remarks,” Poojary said.

Meanwhile, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said that remarks made by the CM were expunged by the Chairman and the issue is over. “Discussing it again is not right,” he said. Horatti noted that he had expunged the remarks to ensure smooth functioning of the House, even though he is yet to verify if the words used are unparliamentary.

However, BJP MLC N Ravikumar insisted that the CM should apologise or express regret for his remarks. Siddaramaiah, who spoke next, also asked why the issue was being raised again when the remarks were expunged. “The words were not unparliamentary,” he said.

Opposing this, the BJP and a few JD(S) MLCs staged a walkout with a few shouting slogans such as “Goonda CM” and “Goonda Congress government”.