Images of a Congress MP slapping a bank manager are making rounds on all news channels and as a result the MP apologized to the manager today.

The Congress MP from Nagarkurnool, Andhra Pradesh, M Jagannath was caught on camera slapping the bank manager of Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank at Uppununtala in Mahabibnagar district.

The MP was immediately summoned to Delhi to explain his position to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Veerappa Moily, the AICC general secretary in-charge of AP.

Following this, the MP has issued a statement to the media stating, “I have no personal grudge against Ravinder Reddy, the rural bank manager. It was an unfortunate incident. The truth would come out later. However, I tender unconditional apology to him to put an end to this.”

The bank manager has filed a complaint on charges of assault, insult and attacking public servant on duty. The supporters of the MP in turn have filed a case on the bank manager under stringent Prevention of Atrocities against SC/STs.

The MP till yesterday stated that it was not his intention to hit the manager. Speaking on the issue he said, “I was told that he was not disbursing the loan amounts to SC/ST beneficiaries. When I asked him for the reasons, he challenged me to come to the bank to settle the scores. He spoke very provocatively. I wanted to make him see reason. 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.”

The apology statement has put an end to the slapping episode.