Amar Singh apologises to media for attack on photographers

Mumbai, July 16 (UNI) Three months after the assault on three city-based photographers by a black cat commando during the high profile wedding of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in April, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh apologised to the photographers here today.

''I publicly apologise for the act committed by my commando,'' the SP leader said in a subdued tone.

Terming the incident as ''unfortunate one which could have been avoided,'' the SP leader admitted that the commando, who had clawed some newspaper photographers while they were trying to capture the newly-wedded couple in their frames, were indeed deployed for his security.

However, he also defended the action of his security guard, saying that one of the photographers was trying to come in the way of Amitabh Bachchan who, at that time, was at the driving seat, and had the commando not got them dispersed, some untoward incident could have taken place.

Mr Singh said the incident could have been averted had he not been in the hospital.

However, when questioned about the action taken against the errant security personnel, he sought to put the onus on the Central government.

''They are not under me. They have been deployed by the government for my security. I have already written to their DG, seeking his explanation for the act,'' he quipped.

The three newspaper photographers, who were trying to take photographs of Aishwarya's 'bidai' ceremony after the marriage, were attacked by the commando. Amitabh Bachchan had already apologised to the media for the same.

Mumbai photographers have been boycotting Amar Singh's functions since then. And today also, they stayed away from the function.

UNI