India, Sept. 20 -- Karnataka minister KM Shivalinge Gowda faced protests over remarks about giving officials an "honorarium" for completing work on time. He said such money should not be demanded forcibly.

The remark was made during a Praja Seva programme at the Sakleshpur tahsildar's office in Hassan district on Saturday. The minister said officials should be respectfully acknowledged for helping people complete their work.

A member of the audience asked why citizens should pay government officials who already received salaries. The question led to a heated exchange at the venue. The minister accused the man of trying to disrupt the meeting. He then instructed police personnel to remove the man from the programme.

The protester identi...