Karnataka Congress MLA sparks outrage over sexist remarks on pregnant woman officer

A video of the comments by Shivaganga Basavaraj, the MLA from Channagiri, has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism from women’s rights groups and opposition leaders.

The controversy erupted during a quarterly review meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP), where Basavaraj publicly questioned Forest Range Officer Shweta for not attending the session.

On learning that the officer was pregnant, the MLA launched into an unsolicited “lecture” on maternity leave, saying,

“If she is pregnant, she should take leave. Why does she need to work? She wants to make money, but when called for meetings, she takes leave. Is there no shame?”

He went on to say, “There are maternity leaves, right? Till the last date she wants salary and extras, but can't come for meetings. Pregnancy is an excuse, one should feel ashamed. Every time it's the same excuse- ‘I’m pregnant, I’m going to the doctor’.”

Basavaraj also demanded “immediate action” against the officer, remarks that were met with visible discomfort among other officials present.

The video has since triggered outrage on social media, with women’s rights activists slamming the MLA for trivialising maternity and workplace rights.

They accused him of turning a sensitive issue into a sexist outburst against a working woman.

Basavaraj has not yet responded to the controversy. The matter is expected to escalate further, as the Opposition BJP has seized upon the remarks to target the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, accusing it of failing to uphold gender sensitivity within its own ranks.

The row comes just weeks after the Karnataka government announced a one-day paid menstrual leave each month for women working in both government and private sectors, a policy hailed as progressive by many.