BENGALURU Congress MLA N.A. Haris on Tuesday tendered an apology in the Legislative Assembly for the assault on a youth at a restaurant in UB City in Bengaluru by his son Mohammed Nalapad Haris, who surrendered to the Cubbon Park police on Monday.
Clarifying his stance on the issue, Mr. Haris, who is representing Shantinagar constituency in the city, said “I am pained by the incident of assault involving my son. Circumstances sometimes not in our hands leads to such incidents. My apology to the House as well to the media persons.”
Media persons covering the arrest of Mohammed Nalapad Haris on Monday were attacked by supporters of Nalapad Haris and some cameramen were injured in the melee.
“Though the incident should not have occurred, it has been blown out of proportion in the media since elections are nearing in the State. The law will take its own course of action and I will not interfere in the matter”, the MLA said, after a reply on the debate by Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
Nalapad, who was the Karnataka Youth Congress general secretary, was expelled from the party for six years.
‘Goonda raj’
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar accused the State government of supporting “goonda raj culture” in the state by not taking prevention action.
Mr. Shettar said Congress legislator from Hungund constituency Vijay Kashappanavar has been booked for assaulting two police constables at the upmarket Skye Bar and Pub located at the UB City in 2014. Incidents are repeating in the same building, he claimed.
The Home Minister rebutted Mr. Shettar’s allegations and said one cannot describe the State as “goonda raj” just because of one or two incidents. The crime rate in the State was much lower compared to the previous BJP government in the State or the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, he said.