Siramulu and Sowmya Reddy in war of words over viral video

Team Udayavani, Jan 21, 2021, 1:48 PM IST

Bengaluru: A fresh war of words erupted between Jayanagar MLA Sowmya Reddy and Minister for Social Welfare B Siramulu over a viral video

A video of Sowmya Reddy hitting a woman constable in the arm has been shared widely on social media platforms, even by BJP leaders and ministers.

In the video, the MLA was seen yelling at a woman constable and hitting her on the arm as she tried to grab the MLA’s hand to detain her. The incident took place near Freedom Park when police personnel was detaining protesting Congress leaders after they started moving towards Raj Bhavan.

Siramulu shared the clip on his Twitter account with a caption, “As a legislator, as a woman, you should work towards women’s empowerment. How right is it to raise your hand at another woman?”

ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಾಸಕಿಯಾಗಿ, ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಗಳಾಗಿ, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಂದಿ ಹಾಡಬೇಕು. ಅದು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬ ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಸರಿಯೇ @Sowmyareddyrಯವರೇ? ದುಡಿದು ಬಾಳುವುದು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣವೋ? ಹೊಡೆದು ಬಾಳುವುದೋ? #GoonsOfCongress#CongressGoondaRaj#CONgressBetrayedFarmers @INCKarnataka@INCIndia pic.twitter.com/QaFNdCiRFO

— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) January 20, 2021

Reacting to the tweet Sowmya wrote, “The police were pushing and pulling us for more than 20 minutes as if we are criminals. I have injuries on my neck and shoulder due to the insensitive and excessive manhandling. Why aren’t you sharing that video?”

” I was almost fainting and wanted some water that was near the KPCC president and tried to walk towards him. By then I was grabbed by a woman constable. I asked her to remove it. It was a natural, instinctive reaction,” she further added.