Viral Video: In UP, A BJP MLA, A Slap, And Then A Clarification

"The fact-of-the-matter is that incident has just been twisted by the opposition for political mileage," BJP's Pankaj Gupta told reporters.

A viral video from Uttar Pradesh has given fresh fodder to the opposition ahead of the state elections to attack the Yogi Adityanath government. As the video was being widely shared, a prompt reaction came from the BJP MLA Pankaj Gupta who was seen in the clip, purportedly being slapped by a an od man- a farmer. "It was just a pat on the cheek," he told reporters. ..... farmer now claims he was lovingly waving his hand over the MLA and inadvertently hit him ???? pic.twitter.com/4oFpUmciaF

The 21-second clip shows the BJP MLA from Unnao on the stage at an event. An old man then comes close to him and then is seen giving him, what seems to be, a slap on the face. A couple of men then quickly surround this old man - apparently questioning him for his action - and escort him as they all descend the stage. 

Former Chief Minister AKhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party seized the moment. 

The party tweeted the video with a dig in Hindi- "At a public meeting organised by BJP MLA Pankaj Gupta, a farmer leader slapped the MLA. This slap was not for the MLA but for the BJP-led Yogi Adityanath government's poor policies, poor governance, and autocracy."