After video goes viral, K’taka mantri sorry for slapping woman’

Karnataka housing minister V Somanna, who is also Chamarajanagar district minister, slapped a woman at Hangala village, 10km from Gundlupet, on Saturday evening during a site title distribution event.

After a video of the incident went viral and Congress attacked him, the minister denied insulting any woman and offered apologies if he had hurt anyone. "I've great respect for women. I've been in public life for 45 years in which I've seen many ups and downs," he added.

The woman, identified as Kempamma, too, denied the charges, saying the minister's hands accidentally touched her while she was trying to hold his legs seeking allotment of site.