Kothur G Manjunath, the Congress MLA representing the Kolar constituency, has found himself at the centre of a political firestorm after making controversial comments regarding the Indian Army’s “Operation Sindoor” — a retaliatory military operation conducted in the aftermath of a deadly terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam region.
A formal complaint has now been filed against the legislator at the Banashankari Police Station in Bengaluru by Ganesh Singh, Vice President of the Civil Rights Protection Committee. The complaint accuses Manjunath of making “derogatory and inflammatory remarks” against the Indian armed forces and of hurting the sentiments of Indian citizens.
Controversial Comments Spark Outrage
The controversy stems from remarks made by Manjunath in which he questioned the scale and impact of Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the killing of 26 Indian women pilgrims in a terror attack. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had confirmed that over 100 terrorists were neutralised in the mission. However, Manjunath criticised the operation, allegedly stating: “Apart from flying four planes as a show of force, India did nothing substantial. Is the worth of 26 women’s turmeric and sindoor so little? If someone comes into our home and kills a husband in front of his wife, can that ever be tolerated? Just because the women were strong, they survived — otherwise, many would have died from shock. This is no real answer. Everything from roots to branches must be destroyed. We had a great opportunity, and we wasted it. That is what hurts.”
These remarks — particularly the analogies and tone — have been widely criticised as insensitive, unpatriotic, and disrespectful to the Indian military’s valour and sacrifice.
Legal Complaint and Political Fallout
Ganesh Singh, in his complaint, stated that Manjunath’s comments amount to defamation of the Indian armed forces and incitement against national interests. He has demanded immediate legal action against the MLA, urging authorities to treat the issue as an offence against national integrity.
“Such irresponsible comments insult the brave soldiers of our nation and damage the morale of the armed forces,” Singh said in his statement to the police.
The complaint has added legal dimensions to what has already become a volatile political issue. The police have acknowledged receipt of the complaint and stated that the matter is under investigation.
Political Parties React Sharply
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] have both condemned Manjunath’s statements in strong terms. BJP Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, slammed the Congress party:
“After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah became a darling of the Pakistani media, now another Congress MLA seems desperate to gain the same status.” JD(S), through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), said: “Every time the Indian Army launches a strike on Pakistani terrorists, Congress leaders demand proof and insult the army. While the world is praising the courage and brilliance of our soldiers in Operation Sindoor, Congress continues to display a vile and disgraceful mindset.”
Congress MLA Attempts Damage Control
Faced with mounting backlash from political quarters and the public, Manjunath has issued a clarification. He said his intention was not to question the integrity of the Indian Army but to express frustration over the perceived scale of the retaliation.
“I have no doubts about the Army or Operation Sindoor,” he said. “I only meant that the operation did not bring enough satisfaction in light of what was lost.” However, critics have dismissed his clarification as a “half-hearted U-turn” and accused him of backtracking only after facing heat.
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