Virbhadra loses temper, threatens media, apologises later

Shimla/New Delhi, 24 Oct 2012 (PTI): Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Virbhadra Singh lost his temper and threatened to break the cameras of mediapersons when he was questioned about fresh allegations against him.

 

The former chief minister of the poll-bound hill state later apologised for the incident, hours after the Congress expressed regret, calling Singh’s remarks unfortunate.

 

"I will break your cameras. Don’t you have any other work to do?," a visibly agitated Singh, a former Union Minister, shot back when reporters quizzed him about graft allegations.

 

The incident happened at Ani in Kullu district last evening when some mediapersons sought his reaction to the fresh charges levelled against him by the BJP.

 

At a press conference convened by him in Shimla today on the allegations against him, Singh began by apologising for yesterday’s incident.

 

"I am sorry. I did not mean to offend anyone," Singh said, adding, "I’ve no hesitation in showing my regret for that(incident) if I’ve hurt anybody’s sentiments." The senior Congress leader rejected the allegations against him.

 

Singh said he respected the media and that they are doing their job. "I respect the press. I respect all the media. I know this is your job," Singh said, adding "there is no other politician more well-mannered than me."

 

The Congress earlier in the day apologised for Singh’s outburst.

 

"If anyone is hurt, we apologise," party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said when asked to react to the incident.

 

Terming as "unfortunate" Singh’s remarks, Dikshit said such things can sometime happen in the midst of an election campaign.

 

"We do not know the context behind the incident. Sometimes in the midst of an election campaign one gets angry and upset.

 

It is unfortunate. Virbhadra Singh is a senior leader. Sometimes, in the midst of election campaign, such things happen under mental or physical pressure," Dikshit told reporters in Delhi.