Andhra parliamentarian Jagannath apologises for slapgate

From ANI

Hyderabad, July 2: Andhra Pradesh Congress MP MS Jagannath on Thursday apologised for slapping a bank manager on Monday.

Speaking to reporters he said, " It is an unfortunate incident. I applogise for it."

Earlier reports said that Jagannath had been summoned to New Delhi to explain his behavior, but today he said he had not received any such summons from the party headquarters.

"I have not got any summon from the high command in this regard. It is my duty to brief my leader, hence I will do so."

The Congress MP from Nagarkurnool in Andhra Pradesh's Mahabubnagar District had earlier denied slappin AP Grameen Vikas bank manager Ravinder Reddy, saying that he had tried to put his arm around the latter's shoulder.

Employees of the grameen banks in the Congress-ruled state were up in arms and staged protests in several districts and stopped disbursal of loans under government schemes. The bank branch where the incident happened has threatened to go on strike from today.

Police booked a case against the MP on charges of assault and use of criminal force to deter a public servant rom discharge of his duty and said investigation was on.

The manager claimed he was manhandled and his shirt torn.

The Andhra Pradesh Bank Association has said that it will approach the state human rights commission to inquire into the matter.


Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com