Media365
A congress MLA recently sparked a row by claiming that Rashmika Mandanna needs to be ‘taught a lesson’. MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda Ganiga made the comment reasoning that the actres declined an invitation to attend the International Film Festival in Bengaluru and alleged that she disrespected her home state and Kannada language. Days later, the minister has seemingly backtracked on his comments.
In the wake of the growing controversy surrounding his comments on actress Rashmika Mandanna, Karnataka Congress MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda Ganiga has spoken out, providing further clarification on his earlier statement. The remarks, which were widely discussed and criticized, have sparked concerns, especially from the Kodava community, leading to calls for the actress’s safety. In a bid to explain his position, the MLA told ANI, “When I said that I would teach her a lesson, I meant about life lessons, but I did not mean to attack her; I said, do not kick the ladder you have climbed.”
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He added that his comments were meant to remind the actress about the importance of respecting the state that nurtured her. “Rashmika Mandanna did not come when invited to our state program. I told her that you grew up eating state food, so stand up for it,” Gowda said. He clarified that his intention was never to personally criticize her. Gowda further said, “I have also seen Rashmika Mandanna’s movie… I stand by my words. Our state, our land, and the Kannada language must be respected.”
On March 3, Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda Ganiga was at Vidhana Soudha where he spoke harshly about Rashmika Mandanna. This is not the first time the actress has faced accusations of abandoning her home state. Despite making her debut with a Kannada movie, it has been accused time and again that the Pushpa fame has disassociated from the Sandalwood industry. She has reportedly steered away from the Kannada film industry and cemented her footing in Tollywood and Bollywood instead.
Talking to ANI, he said “Rashmika Mandanna, who started her career with the Kannada movie Kirik Party in Karnataka, refused to attend the International Film Festival last year when we invited her. She said, ‘I have my house in Hyderabad, I don’t know where Karnataka is, and I don’t have time. I can’t come.” He recalled that his party members personally visited her residence to extend an invitation, but she declined it. He asserted, “One of our legislator friends visited her house 10–12 times to invite her, but she refused and even disregarded Kannada, despite growing up in the industry here. Shouldn’t we teach them a lesson?” The minister’s statements went gone viral online.
