Sidlaghatta, 14 Jan  

Civic workers of the Sidlaghatta City Municipality protested against Rajeev Gowda on Wednesday after a leaked audio purportedly showed the Congress leader allegedly abused the Sidlaghatta City Municipal Corporation Commissioner.

Rajeev, who unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections, allegedly threatened Commissioner Amrutha Gowda’s life after authorities removed posters of the film ‘Cult’. In an Instagram post, Rajeev said he had invited several members of the film’s cast and crew to the constituency.

An audio clip of the alleged conversation has gone viral on the social media, where Rajeev purportedly threatens Amrutha, saying he would ensure that she is transferred from Sidlaghatta. He also purportedly says that he would make his supporters hurl chappals at her.

“If my banner is removed then I would come and set things on fire. You have seen my gentleness, not my evil side,” Rajeev reportedly said. “I will create riot in all the 31 wards.” However, Amrutha attempted to tell him that the banner was removed because it was obstructing traffic.

As the audio clip went viral, civic workers protested and demanded an apology from him. Speaking during the protest on Wednesday, Amrutha said that this was the second time Rajeev had threatened her.

He had previously verbally assaulted her over a banner issue during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to the region. Civic workers threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if action was not taken against the Congress leader.

GN Chalapathi, Commissioner CMC Chintamani and General Secretary of the State unit of Civic Employees Association said he would urge upon the district in charge Minister Sudhakar to initiate action. However, Rajeev has said that the clip has been edited, and denied threatening the Commissioner