Hyderabad, July 02: Nagarkurnool Congress Lok Sabha member Manda Jaggandham is stewing in his own juice after slapping the manager of a Grameena Vikas Bank, Ravinder Reddy, in Uppununthala village, Mahaboobnagar district, a couple of days ago. With the media beaming images of his highhanded behaviour across the country, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought an explanation from him as did Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday.
Even before Sonia’s summons, Union Law Minister and in-charge of Congress State affairs Veerappa Moily asked the Pradesh Congress Committee to submit a report on the incident immediately.
Jagannadham will meet both Sonia and Moily Thursday to explain his side of the story.
He met Rajasekhara Reddy here this afternoon and narrated the sorry tale but an unconvinced Rajasekhara Reddy reportedly pulled him up for flying off handle. Nonetheless, Jagannadham stuck to his guns denying that he had slapped Ravinder Reddy (despite the footage aired by the media).
He claimed it was only an ‘‘argument’’ and alleged: ‘‘The manager was drunk and did not bother to get up from his chair when I went to the bank.
I just asked him why he hadn’t been releasing loans to SC/ST applicants. But he challenged me to do whatever I could. His behaviour and language made me angry. I am ready for any probe. Let the truth come out. I will not apologise.’’ On the other hand, the State-level Regional Rural Bank Employees Association, which has launched an agitation against the MP, threatened direct action on July 5, if he failed to tender an unconditional apology to the manager.
–Agencies–