A video of Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader G Parameshwara has gone viral – for all the wrong reasons. The leader is seen standing with a group of people, when a uniformed bodyguard kneels at his feet with a bottle of water and a napkin, and cleans his clothes and shoes. A nonchalant Parameshwara can be seen paying no attention to the man, and making no effort to stop him.
Parameshwara, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, has been on a drive inspecting civic works in the city since Monday. The video was taken when the minister’s clothes and shoes became a little dirty after he went to inspect a storm water drain work leading to Ulsoor lake.
After the issue was highlighted in the media, the senior Congress leader tried to downplay the issue, with sarcasm.
“He had come to help me and it was all over quickly. You guys have made this small incident as an international issue. I am eternally thankful for this,” Parameshwara commented.
Reacting to the incident, KS Eshwarappa, BJP leader and former Deputy CM, said, “I condemn this incident. This sort of behaviour from a public figure is unwarranted. I demand an apology.”
This incident comes close to the heels of another video of a politician acting with arrogance. Public Works Department Minister HD Revanna (brother of CM HD Kumaraswamy) was caught on tape throwing biscuits at people staying in a relief camp. In the video, Revanna is seen throwing biscuit packets at women and children, most of whom are patiently sitting in front of him at a relief centre at Ramanathapura in Hassan district.
That time too, there was no apology from Revanna. “It was not intentional and I did not want to insult anyone. I could not reach the women and children at the back so I threw it,” he said.