Bengaluru: The Karnataka Minister, H C Mahadevappa, has found himself at the center of a controversy after a video surfaced showing him receiving assistance to put on his shoes following an inspection of a hostel. The incident has sparked criticism from the BJP, who accused the minister of arrogance, and from the Congress party, alleging the enslavement of its members. The minister defended himself by explaining that he needed help due to health issues from recent surgeries and thanked his aide for the assistance. However, a BJP MLA criticized the minister’s health status and suggested that he should rest at home, further fueling the controversy.
The incident took place following an inspection of a hostel, where the minister was seen sitting on a chair while an aide helped him put on his shoes. The video of this incident quickly went viral, leading to a heated debate in political circles and among the public.
The BJP, the principal opposition party in Karnataka, accused the minister of displaying arrogance by receiving such assistance, especially in a public setting. They argued that a person in a position of power should not expect others to assist them with personal tasks.
ಧಿಮಾಕು ದೌಲತ್ತು ದುರಹಂಕಾರ @siddaramaiah ಅವರಿಗೆ ಇರುವಂತೆ ಅವರ ಅತ್ಯಾಪ್ತ @CMahadevappa ಅವರಿಗೂ ಬಂದಿದೆ.
ಹೈಕಮಾಂಡ್ ಗುಲಾಮಗಿರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೆದ್ದು ತೇಲುತ್ತಿರುವ @INCKarnataka ಸದಸ್ಯರು ತಮ್ಮ ಅಂಗರಕ್ಷಕರಿಂದ ಗುಲಾಮಗಿರಿ ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಸಮಾಜ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಸಚಿವರು ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿಯೇ ಇದು..! pic.twitter.com/uFJ1A84A15
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) November 8, 2023
On the other hand, the Congress party came to the minister’s defense, stating that the criticism was unwarranted and that the minister was simply receiving help due to health issues stemming from recent surgeries. They condemned the BJP’s accusations of enslavement and argued that it was an attempt to politicize a personal matter.
In response to the criticism, Minister H C Mahadevappa explained that he has been struggling with health issues following recent surgeries, which made it difficult for him to perform certain tasks, including putting on his shoes. He expressed his gratitude towards his aide for the assistance and emphasized that it was a matter of necessity rather than arrogance.
A BJP MLA further fueled the controversy by questioning the minister’s health status and suggesting that he should prioritize his health and rest at home instead of engaging in public activities. This added a new dimension to the controversy, as it raised concerns about the minister’s ability to fulfill his duties effectively.
