Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 23: The state Congress appears to distance itself from the controversy involving Shantinagar MLA N A Haris' son Mohammed Nalapad Haris, who is the prime accused in a high-profile assault case and has been remanded in judicial custody. The party may also review if it will be apt to give N A Haris a ticket to contest in the upcoming polls, in the backdrop of the event.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara seems annoyed that the incident ahead of the Assembly polls is denting Congress party’s image.

"It is wrong to hold the party responsible for acts carried out by individual members. How is the party responsible? The Congress party is being projected in bad light. Definitely, it is embarrassing," Parameshwara told reporters.

"Though case involving Haris’s son and Haris getting ticket are two different things, the prospect of giving him the ticket will be reviewed. We will consult people through our observers. There's a process we have and if Haris comes through this process, he'll get the ticket," Parameshwara said. Haris is a second-time MLA from Shantinagar constituency in Bengaluru.

Parameshwara confirmed that he has suspended Mohammed Nalapad Haris as well as Congress K R Puram block functionary S Narayanaswamy, whose video spewing petrol inside a BBMP office is making rounds.

The KPCC president also lashed out at BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa calling him immature. It is wrong of him to call Rahul a 'baccha' (child), when he is the President of the Congress. "Given his age and political experience I thought BSY has matured but he hasn’t," he said.

Rahul Gandhi will tour the state for three days starting February 24. He will speak about the Mahadayi river water sharing issue, and talk about the government's effort to utilise 259 tmcft from the Almatti dam," he added.