Karnataka minister apologises after viral video shows him slapping woman

Karnataka Minister V Somanna apologised on Sunday after he allegedly slapped a woman who approached him with a plea to redress her grievanceThe incident the video of which went viral on social media took place when the Housing and Infrastructure Minister was participating in a property document distribution ceremony at Hangla village in this districtProperty ownership papers were handed over to landless people who were occupying government land for residential purposesDuring the ceremony on Saturday the woman later identified as Kempamma approached the Chamarajnagar district incharge Minister reportedly pleading with him to allot a plot The minister turned angry after he was shoved due to the unruly crowd and allegedly slapped herAlso read Viral video shows Karnataka minister assaulting womanldquoThis incident is not an incident at all I have been in politics for the past 40 years This was a programme organised for the downtrodden and economically weaker section of the society Though I did not misbehave at all but if anyone felt hurt then I apologise and express my regretrdquo he told reporters in ChamarajanagarAccording to him Kempamma a widow was repeatedly coming on to the stage compelling him to ask her not to do soThough he told her that he will resolve her issue in 10 minutes once he comes down from the stage she did not relent Somanna addedldquoI was trying to make her stand aside indicating her with my hand There was no other intention other than that I have high regards for women I too come from a financially weaker backgroundrdquo the minister explainedHe added that he issued a Hakku Patra ownership paper to Kempamma on SundayFormer Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah came down heavily on Somanna saying that the incident showed his cultureldquoA woman was narrating her woes to the government but she was responded with harsh words Those in power should have patience Somanna is unfit to be a ministerrdquo Siddaramaiah saidldquoIf you donrsquot have patience and inept to address the grievances of people then you should resign and come out of the governmentrdquo he saidCongress national general secretary and Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the arrogance has gone into the heads of the BJP ministersCongress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh said What a difference from the way RahulGandhi began the Karnataka leg of BharatJodoYatra from the very same Gundlupet on 30th September This shameless man should be sacked immediately Ramesh tweetedThe Congress MP was referring to Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered Karnataka from Gundlupet last month where the incident occurred on SaturdaySomannas office later shared a video where the woman said she was not slapped but was only lsquoconsoled by the ministerrsquoI bowed at his feet with the plea to grant me land and the minister lifted me consoling me that he would help me but it was publicised that he slapped me the woman accompanied by her children said in the videoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever