Bengaluru, March 10 -- Karnataka BJP MLA Bharat Shetty has spoken out in defence of actress Rashmika Mandanna following threats made by Congress MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda.

Shetty criticized the use of Rashmika's name for political gain, calling out certain members within the Congress party for their "gunda" (thuggish) behaviour.

"There are some gunda elements in the Congress party. Taking Rashmika's name to get some fame. Any person in the country has the right to come to a programme or not to come to a programme. The politicians coming out in the open and threatening her like this is not right. The people who are supposed to give protection are threatening instead. That's very wrong," Shetty said.

His comments come in response to the escal...