KATHMANDU: State Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Karima Begum today said that she would file a case under Defamation Act 1959 against Parsa CDO Durga Prasad Bhandari. Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that the incident was not deliberate and slapped him for self defence. She claimed that the incident prompted as Bhandari had been continuously discriminating Madhesi ministers and people belonging to the community. “I want to teach him a lesson and remind his responsibility towards country,” said Begum. “If a female minister is not safe here, what can be the situation of other women in the country?” asked Begum, adding that she punished him for not completing his responsibility. “I’m feeling bad for the unintentional incident but I’m not going to apologise whatsoever.” Minister Begum also said that she would raise voice in the Cabinet. She also came down heavily on the media for the latter’s act of carrying lopsided news about the incident and the CDO. She claimed that Bhandari was hiding the truth and disseminating wrong information through the media. “I would like to ask the civil servants for being responsible towards their duty and not to discriminate people on the basis of caste, community and religion,” she said. She also said that she had no lust for power but would follow the directives of her party Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum. A few days ago, Begum had assaulted Bhandari for allegedly sending an old vehicle to receive her at the local airport without police escort. Bhandari reportedly got five slaps from the minister in the incident.