Cong MP sorry for slapping banker

 Congress MP M Jagannath tendered an unconditional apology to bank manager Ravinder Reddy on Thursday for allegedly slapping him for not disbursing loan amounts to SC/ST beneficiaries.

“I have no personal grudge against Reddy. It was an unfortunate incident. The truth would come out sooner or later. However, I tendered an unconditional apology to put an end to this,” he told reporters. He is in New Delhi to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily to explain his position. The party high command summoned him after he was caught on camera slapping Reddy, the branch manager of Andhra Pradesh Grameen Vikas Bank at Uppununtala in Mahabubnagar. The leadership obtained a report from state Congress president D Srinivas.

“I was told he was not disbursing loan amounts to SC/ST beneficiaries. When I asked him why, he challenged me to come to the bank and settle scores. He spoke provocatively… 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 had said.

Acting on a complaint, Uppununtala police registered a case against the MP on various charges including assault, insult and attacking a public servant while discharging his duties. The MP’s supporters filed a counter case against the bank manager under the stringent Prevention of Atrocities against SC/STs.