Davangere: Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa is trouble after his ‘vadda’ comment on former CM Siddaramaiah.

The members of the Bhovi community, who have taken the comment in a rather personal way, have said that it is unbecoming of the BJP leader to use such language and words that can have defamatory references to their community.

Addressing the media, former president of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited (KSICL) D Basavaraj said, “Our Vaddar or Bhovi community has contributed a lot towards the society by constructing dams, buildings etc, and overall development of the nation. Eshwarappa’s usage of words to criticize his political rivals is of low standards.”

“Eshwarappa must immediately apologize to people of Bhovi community for misusing the communities’ name for political reasons. His act is subjected to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and suo motto case against him shall be registered”, he added.

Meanwhile, as the minister was expected to visit the Chamundi Hills to offer prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari today, the Bhovi community members staged a protest on the hills condemning the defamation of the community.

Veteran leader of the community G V Seetaram urged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to admit Eshwarappa to mental hospital claiming that he had lost mental balance.

It can be recalled that earlier, on a hurry to criticize Siddaramaiah, Eshwarappa had termed him to be “Dadda” (dumb) and “Vadda” (buffoon), for which he had also requested the media personnel immediately not to blow this out of proportion.