Warangal: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao told Mahbubabad MLA Banoth Shankar Naik to tender an unconditional apology to district collector Dr Preethi Meena for his unacceptable behaviour during the Haritha Haram programme at NTR Stadium on Wednesday.
Employees of the collectorate said they would not attend to their duties until the state government responds.
The chief minister expressed anger at Mr Naik’s behaviour and instructed him to meet the Collector and tender an unconditional apology. He warned the MLA that if he does not change his behaviour he will be suspended from the party.
The Chief Minister also asked Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari and MP Sitaram Naik to speak to the Collector and settle the matter on behalf of the Government and the ruling party.
Later in the day, tourism and social welfare minister A. Chandulal and Mahbubabad MP Sitaram Naik, who were both present at the tree plantation programme, met Ms Meena in her office and persuaded her to forgive Mr Naik. The MLA also apologised to her for his actions.
Speaking to media persons later, Mr Naik said that he did not touch the collector intentionally. “The collector is like my sister and I did not have any bad intentions. Since there were a lot of people at the location, my hand accidentally touched her,” he claimed.
