It is known that Congress MLA Ravi Ganiga from Mandya gave call to attack Rashmika Mandanna for skipping the Bengaluru International Film Festival. Now MLA Ravi Ganiga speaking to scribes, issued a clarification.
He said "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." He added "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,"
He continued saying "I have also seen Rashmika Mandanna's movie... I stand by my words. Our state, our land, and the Kannada language must be respected."
Earlier he said “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.’ 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?”
But Kodava Community criticised MLA Ganiga's attack on Rashmika. Kodava National Council, led by President NU Nachappa, said "Some individuals, unaware of the nature of artistic criticism, have been targeting and harassing the actress."