Video showing Congress worker taking off Siddaramaiah's shoes sparks row

A Congress worker was caught on camera removing the Chief Minister's shoes as he arrived at an event to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary in Bengaluru.

In Short

• Video shows Congress worker removing Siddaramaiah's shoes
• BJP's Poonawalla called Siddaramaiah 'poster boy of corruption'
• Incident an insult to national flag and Gandhi's principles, says BJP

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came under fire on Wednesday after a video showing a Congress worker taking off his shoes with the tricolour flag in his hand went viral. This drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which blamed the Congress leader for "insulting the nation's pride.".

The Congress worker was seen removing the Chief Minister's shoes as he arrived at an event to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Bengaluru.

A police officer, present at the event, removed the tricolour from the worker's hand as he went on to remove the shoes of Siddaramaiah.

Reacting to the incident, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla labelled Siddaramaiah as the "poster boy of corruption" and blamed him for insulting the national flag and Mahatma Gandhi's principles.

Taking to X, Poonawala stated that Siddaramaiah, rather than resigning, had his workers tie his shoelaces while holding the tricolour, a symbol of India's national pride.

"On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, this means an insult to the tricolour and an insult to Bapu's principles," he wrote, questioning Congress's adherence to the values of Mahatma Gandhi.

"Now it follows Rahul Gandhi's principles, which mean arrogance, corruption, and parivarvaad (familism)," he added.

Poonawala further accused Siddaramaiah of obstructing investigations and disrespecting democratic institutions. Referring to recent court orders over the MUDA land grab case, he asserted that the Chief Minister should have stepped down to allow a proper enquiry but instead chose to resist. "He doesn't resign. He has his workers tie his shoes, sometimes pushes the media, and sometimes blocks the CBI," Poonawala added.

Siddaramaiah is under scrutiny by the Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate following a complaint by an activist. The allegation involves the allotment of prime Mysuru land to the chief minister's wife as compensation for land in a nearby village, reportedly resulting in a Rs 45 crore loss to the state.