2012's Karnataka video clip controversy was a scandal that hit both the BJP and MLA. It's been nicknamed “porngate” by in social media. It involved local media filming two ministers who appeared to be watching pornographic material on their mobile phones while the Karnataka legislation was in session. It eventually led to the resignation of these ministers. What Took Place First, we need to go back to the international Spring Zouk festival that took place in February of 2012. The festival takes place at St. Mary's Islands on Udupi beach and is attended by thousands of people, mainly foreign tourists. A video was taken of someone engaging in public sex, and it was this video that is part of the scandal. During a KLA session, two cabinet ministers from BJP, C.C. Patil and Laxman Savadi, where caught on camera watching what allegedly was the clip from the Spring Zouk festival on their mobile phones. In the TV visuals, you can clearly see the two ministers watching the clip on Savadi's phone while exchanging banter. The ministers tried to say that it was part of a behavioral investigation on how foreign tourists behaved at this state tourism organized celebration. The Fallout The incident saw reactions from media, political, and social sectors. As soon as the incident came out in the news, opposition parties, including JDS leader Y.S.V Datta, and Congress leader Siddaramaiah called for both ministers to resign. The ministers involved gave their resignations, which the party accepted. The Speakers was also urged by Siddaramaiah to bar Patil and Savadi from the assembly. He stated that the behavior of the ministers was an insult to the people who had elected them, calling their actions disgraceful. All of the officials involved were reprimanded by B.S. Yeddyurappa, a BJP party leader, and the Chief Minister of Karnataka. However, social activist, Anna Hazare felt they should be imprisoned for their offense. Meanwhile, the attention the incident drew from international media was focused on one thing. How these members even made it into a party that condemns this type of behavior in the first place? The hashtag #porngate became February 8th's highest trending word, and social media sites, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter were swamped with searches of the incident. Even more disturbing is that C.C. Patil was a former child and women development minister. He was known for being a very vocal advocate regarding dress codes for women. People wanted answers from BJP as to why they were defending and justifying hypocritical members who acted as moral police, yet violated the codes of acceptable behavior. The behaviors of these two ministers show the blatant disregard that politicians have for the tax-payers' money and the solemnity of the House. These are the people who voters are trusting to make moral judgments about acceptable behavior. However, they don't seem to be following those judgments when it comes to their own behavior. The incident brings into question how many other corrupt ministers and political figures have been voted in. How did they win their positions? There has been a public outcry for an overhaul and changes to be made. References-
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