Auto driver gets an apology, sweets and an answer from Tamilisai Soundararajan

In a video, Tamilisai is seen visiting the home of Kathir, the auto driver, who was manhandled by BJP cadre when he questioned the rising fuel prices.

news Controversy

Two days after an autorickshaw driver from Chennai was manhandled by BJP cadre for asking the party’s Tamil Nadu chief Tamilisai Soundararajan about the rising cost of fuel prices, the BJP leader has apologised to the man.

In a video shared on Tamilisai Soundarajan’s Twitter account, the leader is seen entering his house and greeting his family with sweets. The man who was seen pushing Kathir is also seen in the video, accompanying Tamilisai. Kathir is heard telling Tamilisai that he is not the enemy. He even says that he helped the BJP paste posters on walls during the election campaign of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

While she is not heard apologising in the video, Kathir tells TNM that she said sorry and told him that she was not aware that he was manhandled .

“She visited my house. She said she was unaware of me being hit. I also explained that I asked her a question as she was a state leader. She said sorry.”

Kathir says he finally got the answer to his question on rising fuel costs.

“She told me that the Central Government is willing to reduce prices but the state government isn’t,” he says.

Background

On Sunday evening, Tamilisai was addressing reporters after an event in New Colony, Saidapet.

As she was listening to a journalist’s question, Kathir appeared behind her and asked her about the rising cost of fuel. Tamilisai, who appeared to hear his question, smiled to cameras but did not turn to face him. A BJP supporter, dressed in a white shirt, who was standing next to the leader, immediately elbowed him out of the way. Kathir was then pushed away by a few party men.

As of Tuesday, the price of petrol in Chennai stood at Rs 85.31 per litre while one litre of diesel costs Rs 78.10.