Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy assaulted a police constable on January 20 near Freedom Park, Bengaluru. The assault took place in full view of the public and in front of reporters and camerapersons.
Karnataka Congress leaders had earlier in the day organised a “Raj Bhavan Chalo” event in opposition to the Centre’s Farm Laws. After the protest-meet at Freedom Park, police tried to stop the Congress leaders from going to the Raj Bhavan. At this juncture, a female constable approached Sowmya Reddy and stopped her from moving ahead. Enraged, the MLA shouted “Who the hell!” and thrashed the constable.
She then went to Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and complained to him about “police cruelty”.
However, Sowmya Reddy later denied assaulting the police official and instead said that it was, in fact, the police constable who shoved her around.
Sowmya Reddy is the MLA of Jayanagar Constituency in Karnataka. She is the daughter of Congress leader and former Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy. Ramalinga Reddy was earlier four-time MLA from the same Jayanagar Constituency.
Malavika Avinash, spokesperson for BJP Karnataka, condemned the Congress MLA’s actions and called for action against the “entitled dynast MLA” for slapping the police constable on duty.
This Entitled Dynast MLA of @INCKarnataka slaps a “Woman” constable “while on duty,in uniform”
She will unleash her troll army as usual against this post!
What is the action taken against this assault Sir? @CPBlr @BSBommai @CTRavi_BJP @BJP4Karnataka @sprakaashbjp @smrthiharits pic.twitter.com/2JNPJoBzB0— Malavika Avinash (@MalavikaBJP) January 20, 2021
BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson SG Suryah also condemned the attack on the constable, and said that the Congress leader ought to learn some humility.
Shame on @Sowmyareddyr dynast Congress MLA for this unruly behaviour in public & beating up a woman constable. People have rightly made you sit in the opposition to learn humility. pic.twitter.com/xmdDCkJf3Z
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) January 20, 2021