K'taka minister V Somanna apologises after viral video shows him slapping woman
Chamarajanagar, Oct 23: Karnataka Minister V Somanna apologised on Sunday after he allegedly slapped a woman who approached him with a plea to redress her grievance.
The incident, the video of which went viral on social media, took place when the Housing and Infrastructure Minister was participating in a property document distribution ceremony at Hangla village in this district.
Property ownership papers were handed over to landless people who were occupying government land for residential purposes.
During the ceremony on Saturday, the woman, later identified as Kempamma, approached the Chamarajnagar district incharge Minister reportedly pleading with him to allot a plot. The minister turned angry after he was shoved due to the unruly crowd and allegedly slapped her.
"This incident is not an incident at all. I have been in politics for the past 40 years. This was a programme organised for the downtrodden and economically weaker section of the society. Though I did not misbehave at all but if anyone felt hurt then I apologise and express my regret," he told reporters in Chamarajanagar.
According to him, Kempamma, a widow, was repeatedly coming on to the stage compelling him to ask her not to do so.
Though he told her that he will resolve her issue in 10 minutes once he comes down from the stage, she did not relent, Somanna added.
"I was trying to make her stand aside indicating her with my hand. There was no other intention other than that. I have high regards for women. I too come from a financially weaker background," the minister explained.
He added that he issued a 'Hakku Patra' (ownership paper) to Kempamma on Sunday.
Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah came down heavily on Somanna saying that the incident "showed his culture".
"A woman was narrating her woes to the government but she was responded with harsh words. Those in power should have patience. Somanna is unfit to be a minister," Siddaramaiah said.
"If you don't have patience and inept to address the grievances of people then you should resign and come out of the government," he said.
Congress national general secretary and Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the "arrogance has gone into the heads" of the BJP ministers.
Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh said: "What a difference from the way @RahulGandhi began the Karnataka leg of #BharatJodoYatra from the very same Gundlupet on 30th September! This shameless man should be sacked immediately!" Ramesh tweeted.
The Congress MP was referring to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered Karnataka from Gundlupet last month, where the incident occurred on Saturday.
Somanna's office later shared a video where the woman said she was not slapped but was only consoled by the minister'.
"I bowed at his feet with the plea to grant me land and the minister lifted me consoling me that he would help me but it was publicised that he slapped me," the woman accompanied by her children said in the video.
ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್ 30ರಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೇ ಗುಂಡ್ಲುಪೇಟೆಯಿಂದ @RahulGandhi ಅವರು #BharatJodoYatra ಅನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದ ರೀತಿಗೂ, ಈ ಕೃತ್ಯಕ್ಕೂ ಅಜಗಜಾಂತರ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ!
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 23, 2022
ಈ ನಾಚಿಕೆಯಿಲ್ಲದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಸಂಪುಟದಿಂದ ವಜಾಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು! https://t.co/dSFGhGGDMF
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Absence of teachers frustrates purpose of Right to Education Act: Allahabad HC
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court observed that the absence of teachers frustrates the very purpose of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and refused to interfere with the suspension of primary school teachers who were found absent from their school during an inspection.
The court also directed the state government to frame a policy ensuring the presence of teachers in schools within three months.
Justice Prakash Padia, while disposing of the writ petitions filed by Indra Devi and Leena Singh Chauhan, observed that the teachers are the "pillars of knowledge" and revered as 'Guru' in the Indian culture. The state government has an obligation to ensure the imparting of unbarred education to children.
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Both the government school teachers challenged the orders passed by the District Basic Education Officer suspending them, specifically on the ground that they were not found in the institution during the inspection.
The court, in an order dated December 2, while refusing to interfere in the suspension order of both teachers, observed, "It is a well-known fact that in a large number of primary institutions throughout the State of U.P., teachers are not attending the institution on time."
"It is an obligation on the state to ensure imparting unbarred education to children belonging to the primary institutions. The matters are coming every day before this Court in which allegations were made against the teachers and headmasters of the institution to the effect that they are not attending the institution within time," the court added.
