Madikeri : A video of Kodagu district Congress committee former president TP Ramesh holding the hand of party MLC S Veena Achaiah, and the latter trying to free her hand during the Independence Day celebrations here, has gone viral creating a new controversy. In the 10-second video, Veena Achaiah is seen lifting his hand and pushing it away. The video, taken by a local channel, also shows Ramesh trying to hold on to her hand.

Speaking to media Achaiah said her family was hurt by Ramesh’s actions and condemned his “mean mentality”. “He may talk of having brotherly feel ings for me, but what he has done in full public view is not brotherly and only condemnable. I have informed KPCC chief G Parameshwara and working president Dinesh Gundu Rao. I will raise the issue at the district party meeting on Saturday,” she said. Achaiah said her family, after watching the video clipping on news channels, asked her and she was ashamed to narrate the incident.

Meanwhile, Achaiah’s native village Makkanduru is enraged by the incident, and Makkanduru Kodava Samaj president Napanda Ravi Kalappa said they will organize a protest against Ramesh.