Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stoked a controversy on Wednesday after he was caught on camera slapping one of his aides outside Mysuru airport.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, showed that Naadnally Ravi, a former panchayat member, trying to give a phone to Siddharamaiah who was walking away after addressing the media outside the airport. However, the Congress leader slapped Ravi in a sudden fit of rage, held him by the arm and pushed him ahead.
“A slap by my guru doesn't need to be given much importance,” Ravi reacted later. He said he was a big follower of the Congress leader and he had no issue with being slapped by him.
“When he came to Mysuru airport, I went there to receive him. When he came out, I gave phone to him and said Marigowda (Siddaramaiah's close aide) was on line. But Siddaramaiah sir said he wants to attend A.K. Subbaiah's programme,” Ravi said, reported ANI.
This is not the first time the former chief minister has hit headlines for his unruly behaviour in public. In January, he had abused an pushed a woman party worker in Mysuru during a public event. Siddharamaiah was listening to public grievances when the woman approached him to complain about revenue officials.