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Updated: Aug 21, 2018 16:22 IST

HD Revanna, Karnataka’s minister of public works department (PWD) and the elder brother of chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, has come under criticism after a video showing him throwing packets of biscuits at people in a relief camp in Hassan district, one of the worst affected by floods, was widely shared on social media.

Revanna is seen picking biscuit packets from a box in the nearly two-minute video, which went viral on Monday, and hurling them at the people sheltered in the relief camp.

The BJP attacked the Revanna for being “insensitive” as television channels began airing the clip, but Kumaraswamy defended him saying the minister did not act of “arrogance”.

“I have noticed that the issue has come on TV. Don’t take him otherwise. I have crosschecked ... While distributing the biscuits, there were a large number of people there and there was no place for movement,” he told reporters.

The chief minister said Revanna was pained that he was being portrayed wrongly. “If he (Revanna) had asked someone to distribute, the issue wouldn’t have arisen at all.”

The minister’s son Prajwal Revanna said his father was “a humble” person and wanted to help the flood-hit people at the camp.

“Since he has concern for the marooned, he had visited relief camps to give them succour,” Prajwal told reporters.

In a Facebook post, senior BJP leader S Suresh Kumar hit out at Revanna, asking, “Dear Public Works Minister, throwing biscuits (at the flood victims) is not a public work... Is it the bloated ego, uncivilised behaviour... behind throwing biscuits?” senior BJP leader S Suresh Kumar asked in a Facebook post.

Several districts of coastal and Malnad regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, parts of Hassan and Uttara Kannada have been affected by incessant rain in the past few days.

(With PTI inputs)