Thiruvananthapuram:
Independent MLA P. C. George reportedly assaulted a 22-year-old canteen waiter on Monday
for “delaying” his lunch parcel.
The “incident” occurred inside the legislator’s room in the MLA quarters in the afternoon. By evening, the alleged occurrence had become a full blown political scandal with the “victim” Manu telling a news channel that the MLA and his personal assistant (PA), Sunny, had assaulted him for his “unpunctuality”.
Manu later told The Hindu that he was new to his job and had difficulty in singling out Mr. George’s room in the labyrinthine corridors of the MLA hostel. He said the legislator swore at him and slapped him on his face when he entered his room. The PS followed up with more blows. Mr. George’s driver had saved him from further assault, he said.
Mr. Manu was treated at the General Hospital “for a broken lip, swollen cheek and contusions on his face”, according to his cousin Renjith.
Manu is a college drop out who takes odd jobs to help his father and mother, both manual labourers. He is simultaneously preparing for PSC exams. He has a sister. Mr. Renjith said the family was always hard-pressed for money and lived in “depressing” conditions in Vattiyoorkavu, a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram. The family was adamant that Manu should press a police complaint, he added.
Mr. George, whose public behaviour often vacillates between hot-tempered theatrics and easygoingness, told The Hindu that he had indeed called Manu “a dirty fellow” for inordinately delaying his lunch. He was irritated. But, he did not manhandle the youth or use any epithets against him.
Mr. George said he saw a conspiracy to vilify him in public. He wanted the police to check the youth’s mobile phone to find out who had compelled him to raise the false accusation. He would petition the speaker against the “plot”, he said.
EOM / G ANAND
