A senior Hindu priest, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, today caused a flutter when he slapped a journalist who asked him about Narendra Modi's chances of becoming Prime Minister.
(Watch Video)The priest, dressed in saffron robes, was caught on camera delivering a stinging slap to the reporter who persisted with his questions on Mr Modi. Later, the 90-year-old offered no apology.
"I slapped the journalist because he kept on asking about Narendra Modi. An effort is being made to keep Modi in the news, whether by getting people to praise him or insult him," Swaroopanand Saraswati said.
The pontiff said he had said repeatedly that he won't take political questions, but when the journalist refused to back off, he lost his temper.
Swaroopanand Saraswati, who is the Shankaracharya of Dwarka, has been openly critical of the BJP's decision to name Mr Modi its prime ministerial candidate.