Bengaluru: In a significant development senior BJP leader Ram Madhav issued a legal notice to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad over his allegations that Madhav had held “secret meetings” with Pakistani officials in Colombo and London. The notice accuses Hariprasad of making false, defamatory and malicious statements with the intent to tarnish Ram Madhav’s reputation and demands an unconditional public apology.
The legal notice, issued under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), states that Hariprasad’s statements have seriously damaged Ram Madhav’s public image and goodwill built over decades of public life. It further warns that if the Congress leader fails to withdraw the allegations and apologise, appropriate civil and criminal legal proceedings will be initiated against him.
The controversy began after Hariprasad, while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, alleged that Ram Madhav, who has been appointed as the BJP’s in-charge for the forthcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, had conducted four confidential meetings with Pakistani officials in Colombo and London.
Hariprasad had claimed that one of the meetings was allegedly held at a Hilton Hotel and involved a former Major General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He questioned the authority under which Ram Madhav had allegedly participated in such meetings and demanded that the BJP leader publicly disclose the purpose and agenda of those interactions.
“The country has a Ministry of External Affairs to deal with diplomatic issues. Ram Madhav is neither the External Affairs Minister nor an elected Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislative Assembly. He is only an RSS functionary. Who authorised him to conduct such meetings with Pakistani representatives?” Hariprasad had questioned.
The KPCC chief had further linked the alleged meetings to the period following “Operation Sindoor,” claiming that they took place only a few months after the military operation. He also alleged that RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat had previously advocated dialogue with Pakistan and questioned whether Ram Madhav’s alleged meetings were carried out with the knowledge of the RSS leadership.
Hariprasad had demanded that Ram Madhav explain the circumstances under which the meetings allegedly took place and disclose the subjects discussed during the interactions. His remarks quickly triggered a political storm, with BJP leaders terming the allegations baseless and politically motivated.
In response, Ram Madhav has strongly denied the allegations. According to the legal notice, the statements made by Hariprasad are completely false, fabricated and intended solely to malign his image before the public. The notice contends that the Congress leader deliberately attempted to portray a legitimate international engagement as a secret meeting with Pakistani intelligence officials.
Ram Madhav has maintained that he merely attended the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) South Asia Dialogue held in Colombo, an internationally recognised strategic affairs conference attended by policymakers, diplomats, security experts and scholars from several countries, including India, Sri Lanka, the United States, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He clarified that the event was a multilateral academic dialogue and not a confidential bilateral meeting. According to him, he had attended only as a speaker, participated in open discussions and left after completing his scheduled engagements. He categorically rejected any suggestion that he held secret discussions with Pakistani officials or former ISI officers.
The legal notice further states that despite these clarifications being available in the public domain, Hariprasad continued to repeat the allegations, thereby causing serious reputational damage. It alleges that the Congress leader knowingly made statements capable of lowering Ram Madhav’s standing among the public and within political circles.
The notice also claims that Hariprasad’s remarks were widely circulated through television channels, newspapers and social media platforms, amplifying what it describes as a false narrative against Ram Madhav. It asserts that the allegations have caused immense mental agony and reputational loss and therefore require immediate corrective action through a public apology.
The latest development comes at a politically sensitive time, with preparations underway for the Greater Bengaluru Authority elections. Political observers believe the controversy could further intensify the war of words between the Congress and the BJP, both of which have been engaged in frequent confrontations over governance, national security, alleged corruption and administrative issues.
While the Congress has so far not officially responded to the legal notice, party leaders are expected to deliberate on the issue before deciding their next course of action. BJP leaders, meanwhile, have accused the Congress of resorting to irresponsible allegations without evidence and attempting to divert public attention from governance issues.
With the legal notice now formally served, the matter could move beyond the political arena and into the courtroom if Hariprasad refuses to withdraw his statements or issue an apology. The episode has added another flashpoint to the already heated political atmosphere in Karnataka.
