Tabassum Rao, Wife of Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao Files Complaint with Women’s Commission Against BJP

Bengaluru: Tabassum Rao, wife of Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, has filed a complaint with the state’s women’s commission against the social media cell of the Karnataka BJP for allegedly posting derogatory comments against her in a social media post.

The social media post targeted Tabassum Rao following a recent statement by her husband, Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, claiming that Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar) used to eat beef. Following his statement, the BJP, in a post on X on Thursday, asked: “Honourable @Dineshgrao, did your father Gundurao, of the Brahmin community, tell you that Veer Savarkar, a Brahmin, used to eat beef, or did your wife Tabassum, of the Muslim community, tell you?”

Tabassum Gundu Rao took strong objection to this post and wrote on X, “Filed a complaint with Karnataka Women’s Commission against BJP for their continuous derogatory and communal statements against me, despite not being in active politics. Attacking a woman is petty. Women deserve respect, not abuse.”

In her complaint, she said, “As the wife of Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, I have been subjected to unwarranted attacks and communal references simply because of my marriage and my Muslim faith.” She said she has already filed a defamation suit against BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for his derogatory comments in the past.

“Unfortunately, this has become routine with BJP leaders and their social media handles targeting me repeatedly,” Tabassum alleged. “As someone not involved in politics, I find it reprehensible that my personal life and community are being dragged into the political arena. It is unacceptable to target family members of politicians simply because of their relationship,” the Minister’s wife said.

She requested the Commission take strong action against the office-bearers of the state BJP and those handling their social media accounts for making “derogatory comments against her, damaging her reputation, and causing emotional distress.”

Filed a complaint with Karnataka Women’s Commission against BJP for their continuous derogatory and communal statements against me, despite not being in active politics. Attacking a woman is petty. Women deserve respect, not abuse.@BJP4Karnataka @PMOIndia @INCKarnataka pic.twitter.com/eaJ7yd2DuR

— Tabu Rao (@TabbuRao) October 4, 2024