Karnataka Slap Row: Minister Somanna ‘Touched My Cheek Assuring Me,’ Says Woman After Video Goes Viral

In the latest of controversies from Karnataka, a video of state Housing and Infrastructure Minister V Somanna slapping a woman went viral. In a matter of hours though, the ‘victim’ Kempamma was seen saying the Minister didn't slap her but was only assuring her by ‘touching her cheek'. 

The video went viral on Monday (24 October) when Somanna was seen slapping a woman while participating in a property document distribution ceremony at Hangla village in Chamarajanagar district.

Property documents were being given to landless people who were occupying government land for residential purposes but had not secured any ownership of it till now. Kempamma who was at the event went upto the Minister with a plea to resolve her grievance.

As reported by PTI, the Minister turned angry after he was shoved due to the unruly crowd and slapped the woman. However, the Minister's office shared a video in which the woman said she only pleaded a plot be granted to her as she was too poor.

'I bowed at his feet with the plea and the Minister lifted me consoling me that he would help me but it was publicised that he beat me up,' the woman, surrounded by local leaders, said in the video.

Somanna, meanwhile apologised saying the ‘episode’ was no incident at all. Addressing media upon receiving flak from all quarters for his disrespectful behaviour towards the woman, Somanna said he is seeking an apology if the ‘action had hurt anyone’.

He clarified saying the woman was repeatedly heading to the dais even after the police on duty kept preventing her. As per his statement he only ‘asked her to move aside’.

“I have immense respect for women. More so, I have also come from a poor background and understand the value of shelter. So, I have ensured receipt of documents by Kempamma,” he said.

Speaking to TV9 Kannada, the woman has also been seen repeatedly ‘clarifying’ that it is she who ‘erred by going to the stage’ and the Minister ‘has done no wrong’.

“He has not slapped me. I seek that no one files any complaint or takes any action against him. He has even ensured I get a piece of land and helped a woman. I have not had any trouble from him,” says Kempamma.

The viral video though shows the Minister biting his lips angrily and slapping her as she rushes to the stage and bends to touch his feet, even as the cops tried hard to stop her.

Leader of opposition Siddharamaiah has called Somanna ‘unfit to be a Minister’. Responding to the action in the video, Siddharamaiah has said ‘those who do not have any humanity in them, how will they have any culture’ he retorted, speaking to media about the incident.

Indian National Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge had earlier sought the dismissal of the Minister calling him the ‘new gem of Bommai government’.