UP Minister slaps boy, issues clarification

Uttar Pradesh minister Surendra Singh Patel, who was caught slapping a boy on camera, on Monday excused himself from controversy saying the boy is his nephew and was helping him in distributing blankets.

"The kid, whom I was shown hitting, is my nephew. He is a very up-to-date person.

I have pushed him with affection and said to hurry while bringing the blankets. He was helping me in distributing blankets," said Surendra Singh Patel.

Earlier today, Patel was caught on camera slapping the boy during his blanket distribution drive.

He further added, "It is all a big lie. We all work closely for the poor and have deep relations with them. People who are pointing fingers at me don't know anything about the poor people. You should ask the people who helps them without taking my name, and they will tell you the truth,"

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi criticised Patel, calling the act as a 'shameful incident' and demanded an apology from the leader.

"It is a shameful incident. First of all, being a people's representative, he should not have behaved in a reckless manner. If something was lacking in the arrangements, then he should be infuriated on his own staff but not in public. They are not doing a favour to people. And I think he should apologise for his behaviour," Rita Bahuguna Joshi said.