Karnataka Congress leader holds MLC S Veena Achaiah’s hand, stirs row

Mangalore Today News Network

Madekeri, Aug 19, 2017 :  Kodagu district Congress committee former president TP Ramesh holding the hand of party MLC S Veena Achaiah, and the latter trying to free her hand during the Independence Day celebrations here, has gone viral creating a new controversy. In the 10-second video, Veena Achaiah is seen lifting his hand and pushing it away. The video, taken by a local channel, also shows Ramesh trying to hold on to her hand.

 

When TOI spoke to her on Friday, Achaiah said her family was hurt by Ramesh’s actions and condemned his "mean mentality". "He may talk of having brotherly feel ings for me, but what he has done in full public view is not brotherly and only condemnable. I have informed KPCC chief G Parameshwara and working president Dinesh Gundu Rao. I will raise the issue at the district party meeting on Saturday,’’ she said. Achaiah said her family, after watching the video clipping on news channels, asked her and she was ashamed to narrate the incident.

 

Villagers plan protest:

Meanwhile, Achaiah’s native village Makkanduru is enraged by the incident, and Makkanduru Kodava Samaj president Napanda Ravi Kalappa said they will orga nize a protest against Ramesh.


On his part, Ramesh admitted to holding her hand and de scribed Achaiah as his sister."Veena Achaiah and I are from the same district, and she is like my sister. We were only discussing health issues. Recently, I had undergone treatment at the Dharmasthala naturopathy centre, and suggested that she go there too. She underwent therapy and we were meeting for the first time on Independence Day."


Ramesh said he casually asked her about her experience at the naturopathy centre, and touched her hand as a gesture of brotherly affection.


`Won’t hesitate to apologize’


"I agree that she lifted my hand from her hand. My intention was not to touch her inappropriately. The video is being shared to defame me and I will not hesitate to apologize if it has hurt her family," he added.