Expelled Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa: I was slapped before sacking

AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa, who reportedly slapped DMK MP Tiruchi Siva at Delhi airport on Saturday, explained the incident to reporters as an emotional outburst.

“It relates to the privilege of two MPs and that’s why I am raising it here. I getting unconditional apology from Tiruchi Siva, who is a very decent fellow. Just on emotions, who spoken (sic) on my party leader, I behaved in that manner. I am getting excuse and apology from Tiruchi Siva and from DMK leader also,” she said. The Upper House on Monday witnessed high drama as Ms Pushpa claimed that there was “threat to her life” and that she had been “slapped by a leader,” hours after which she was sacked from AIADMK.

On May 19, the day the state election results were announced, aome images showing Ms Pushpa and Ms Siva in close proximity were in circulation on social media. Neither commented on those images. The issue of their relationship flared up once again after the slapping incident at the Delhi airport on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, DMK leader M.K. Stalin told reporters that chief minister Jayalalithaa should respond to the allegations made by Ms Pushpa in the Rajya Sabha.

Hitting back at him, AIADMK spokesperson C.R. Saraswathi said Mr Stalin should first tell the people what his MP Siva had to say about being slapped at the Delhi airport. “Why is Stalin silent on Siva’s silence Did Siva make any complaint about being slapped in public ” Saraswathi told this paper.

“Actually, she (Pushpa) is punishable under the IPC for assaulting a man in public. Apart from it being an act of gross misdemeanour, such conduct is condemnable; it attracts prosecution,” said former director general of police R. Nataraj, an AIADMK legislator, throwing up a fresh angle to her slap incident.

Going by the ex-DGP’s views, the question that now arises is whether the Delhi airport police or the CISF have registered a case or not.