States » SouthPosted at: Nov 5 2026 3:34PM


Kumaraswamy turns 'village idiot' jibe into farmers' dignity issue

Bengaluru, Nov 5 (UNI) union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday accused Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge of insulting the farming community and rural population through his “village idiot” remark, triggering a counter-campaign by the JD(S) with the slogan, “Yes, I am a village idiot. What's the big deal?”
Reacting to Kharge's remark, Kumaraswamy said the expression was not merely a personal attack on him but an insult to millions of farmers and villagers who work hard to feed the country.
“The word is not actually going to affect me, but the Congress is insulting the farming community by using the term village idiot,” he said.
Questioning the Congress leadership, Kumaraswamy demanded that party president Mallikarjun Kharge respond to the farming community over his son's remarks.
“Congress president Mr Mallikarjun Kharge should answer to the farming community in this country now. What respect have they given to the farming community?” he asked.
Asserting that he was proud of his rural roots, the union Minister said there was nothing derogatory about being associated with a village or agriculture. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's famous observation that India's soul lives in its villages, he underlined the contribution of rural communities to the country's economy and food security.
The controversy has prompted the JD(S) to turn the remark into a political counter-campaign. Party legislators and workers have joined the initiative carrying the slogan, “Yes, I am a village idiot. What's the big deal?”, seeking to project the expression as an attack on rural identity rather than merely on Kumaraswamy.
The exchange began after Priyank Kharge described Kumaraswamy as a “village idiot” while responding to the latter's criticism of the state government's handling of an alleged sting operation case involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The controversy has added another dimension to the confrontation between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) opposition in Karnataka, with the latter seeking to make the issue one of dignity and respect for farmers and rural communities.
UNI BDN
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