Caste comment: JD(S) to act against Shivarame Gowda

Disciplinary action will be initiated against Mandya MP L R Shivarame Gowda for his casteist remarks against Sumalatha Ambareesh, said JD(S) state president H Vishwanath, here on Thursday.

Speaking at a media interaction held at Press Club, he said that criticising Sumalatha only for political reasons was unseemly. "There are members of all communities in Mandya. Gowda is an MP and shouldn't make such remarks. The party has taken his remarks seriously and will initiate disciplinary action against him," he said.

Gowda had targetted Sumalatha Ambareesh's caste while addressing an election rally in Mandya recently, alleging that Sumalatha was out to 'Naidu-ise' Mandya, referring to her Balija Naidu caste. This had prompted the Karnataka Balija Sangha's Federation to file a complaint with the Election Commission against the 'divisive remarks'.

"Sumalatha is the wife of late actor and minister Ambareesh and targetting her purely for political reasons was not correct," he said. Every party is banking on various castes, which is an unhealthy trend. It is unnecessary to disclose the caste details of a candidate and then make personal attacks over it. Such comments will not be tolerated by the voters, he said.