Errant MP apologises to bank manager for slapping him

Seeking to put an end to the row over his alleged slapping of a rural bank manager, Congress Member of Parliament M Jagannath on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology to the victim.

"I have no personal grudge against Ravinder Reddy, the rural bank manager. It was an unfortunate incident. The truth would come out later. However, I tender an unconditional apology to him to put an end to this," he told reporters in New Delhi.

The MP from Nagarkurnool is in the national capital to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and All India Congress Committee general secretary, in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs, Veerappa Moily to explain his position over the issue.

Jagannath, who was caught on camera slapping Ravinder Reddy, the branch manager of Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank at Uppununtala in Mahabubnagar district, was summoned by the Congress high command to Delhi.

Taking a serious view of the MP's action, the Congress leadership obtained a report from state Congress president D Srinivas. The MP, however, defended himself on Wednesday, saying he did not intend to assault the bank employee.

"I was told that he was not disbursing the loan amounts to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries. When I asked him for the reasons, he challenged me to come to the bank to settle the scores. He spoke very provocatively. I wanted to make him see reason. When I tried to put my hand on his shoulder, he pulled back. My hand happened to touch his cheek. It gave an impression that I slapped him," he claimed.

Acting on a complaint by the manager, the police at Uppununtala have registered a case against the MP on various charges including assault, insult and attacking a public servant while discharging his duties.

A counter case was filed against the bank manager by some alleged supporters of the MP under the stringent Prevention of Atrocities against SC/STs.

Strongly protesting the incident, the rural bank employees union has announced a series of agitation programmes. The bank union demanded that the MP tender an apology over the incident.