Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar is back in news again, this time for slapping a party worker during his visit to Karnataka’s Mandya district on Saturday. 

The video of the incident, shared by ANI, showed Shivakumar losing his cool and slapping the party worker after the latter tries to put his hand on his shoulder. 

“If I give you little freedom, you take the liberty to put your hands around me and on my shoulder. You are all my boys but this behaviour is not acceptable,” he was heard saying in the video.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from BJP leaders. 

“Being the president of a national party, it is unforgivable to publicly assault a man. If D K Shivakumar can attack a party worker for having come close to him, what will happen to commoners? Are you trying to become the brand ambassador of hit-and-slap politics?” BJP Karnataka tweeted. 

BJP also shared past videos of Shivakumar slapping supporters.

“Such behaviour in public shows his violent mindset. He has done it in the past too. He had threatened to kick out people who dared to intervene when he was speaking. Is DKS a politician or a rowdy? Is he aspiring to be a brand ambassador for ‘hodi-badi’ (violent) politics? Hitting, kicking and throwing out people are traits of a rowdy not a leader. If a party worker can be treated so badly, imagine what would happen to the common man if he goes to Shivakumar seeking help,” BJP tweeted.

Also Read: Be cautious while welcoming people into party, says K’taka Cong chief Shivakumar

Shivakumar has lost his cool on several occasions. During an election rally in 2017, he slapped the hand of a man who wanted to take a selfie with him. Months later, he slapped another man’s arm for taking a selfie.

“Have basic common sense. When I am doing my responsibility and addressing the press, how can someone come out for a selfie? It was a normal incident,” he had told ANI.