‘If someone had hit me, would have complained’: Congress MP dismisses row over viral bus slap video | Nagpur News

Chandrapur MP Pratibha Dhanorkar has addressed a viral video showing Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve playfully slapping her, asserting it was all in good fun

NAGPUR: Chandrapur MP Pratibha Dhanorkar on Wednesday said a viral video showing Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve slapping her on a bus captured friendly banter among MPs and was no reason to file a complaint.The video was recorded on November 1, when Congress MPs were travelling by bus to the party’s Vote Bachao Desh Bachao rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The 10-second clip shows Barve lightly slapping Dhanorkar, who was seated next to him. She initially does not react but later turns towards him. An email sent to the party high command over the incident reportedly sought disciplinary action against Barve.Dhanorkar said some MPs from Rajasthan and Jharkhand had asked Barve whether he was married, triggering a round of jokes and friendly banter before he lightly slapped her on the cheek. Rejecting the suggestion that she had been wronged, she said, “If someone had hit me, I would have complained myself.”Describing Barve as an elder brother, she said there was no point in giving the incident undue importance when attention should be focused on what was happening in the country and in Delhi.She added that all the MPs on the bus had taken part in the joking and shared a bond like brothers and sisters. Dhanorkar also questioned whether the email carried the name of any authorised person, suggesting that the complainants could be opponents of either Barve or her.Barve claimed that the video had been cropped and said the full clip was available on his social media account and those of other MPs. Without giving specific details, he alleged that the BJP had nothing else to target the Congress protests with.He said MPs had travelled in three or four buses during the protests and spoke about the close ties they shared. “we live there as a family and our protest has been going on for the last several days,” he said.Barve added that he would write to the state home minister after an investigation into the identity of the person who sent the email.There was no word from the party high command on any action in connection with the incident.