'An expression of affection': Siddaramaiah clarifies after slapping Congress worker

Former Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who was caught on camera slapping a party worker at Mysuru airport, clarified on Thursday that it was just an expression of affection and the incident was "blown out of proportion".
The leader had slapped Nandanahalli Ravi at the airport on Wednesday after he asked him to speak to a caller on his cellphone.
“Nadanahalli Ravi is like my son. I have been his guide for long time and there are many such followers with me. There will always be instances of me expressing affection and dissatisfaction out of concern. Today's incident is one such thing but was blown out of proportion,” the former CM tweeted.
The senior Congress leader was leaving the airport after interacting with journalists when the party worker approached him and handed him his cellphone gesturing him to speak to the caller. Infuriated, the CLP leader slapped him on his left cheek and pushed him aside and walked away. Former union minister C M Ibrahim, who was with Siddaramaiah, watched it helplessly.
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After the incident, the worker followed Siddaramaiah and was present with him at the Congress workers' protest at Gandhi Square in Mysuru to protest the arrest of the former minister DK Shivakumar. He called Siddaramaiah a paternal figure and dismissed the incident saying he has no issue.
Earlier also, Siddaramaiah lost his cool and pushed the party’s woman leader Jamal Ara at Gargeshwari in T Narsipur taluk when she questioned him about his son and MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah.

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