New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI): The Congress on Sunday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah after three women journalists alleged sexual harassment by police personnel during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Jantar Mantar on Saturday, asking why they don’t take cognisance of it.
The opposition party said Shah must ensure that an FIR is registered in the case and action is taken against those responsible, while the prime minister must ensure that the women’s reservation law is implemented at the earliest; otherwise, they must resign.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said three female journalists have accused police personnel of sexually harassing them when they were reporting at the Jantar Mantar.
Despite protests by dozens of journalists, neither an FIR was registered nor any concrete action taken, she said in a post in Hindi on X.
Priyanka said the women who were protesting peacefully also alleged that Delhi Police personnel behaved very rudely with them. “Women feel threatened by the very police force whose duty is to provide security,” she said.
From college students to journalists, women everywhere are facing a lack of safety, the Congress general secretary said.
“Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, is this treatment of women appropriate? If not, why don’t you take cognisance of this?” Priyanka said.
Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said that once again allegations have been levelled against Delhi Police for violating a woman’s honour.
“And Amit Shah remains silent. This has happened before too, during student movements. If some random thug or ruffian on the street were to behave this way with a woman, she would at least expect the police to stand by her and deliver justice,” Khera said in a post in Hindi on X.
But imagine, if police themselves treat women with such “disgusting behaviour”, where will the women of this country go for justice, Khera asked.
“Women are half the population of this country. From the streets to Parliament, they have every right. Home Minister Amit Shah must ensure that an FIR is registered in this case and action is taken against the police personnel responsible,” Khera said.
“And the prime minister must ensure that the women’s reservation law is implemented at the earliest, so that women can claim their fair and equal place in Parliament,” he added.
“Women need safety, respect and an equal share in power; otherwise, it would be better that the prime minister and the home minister just resign. In any case, they aren’t able to handle things,” he said.
Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by police personnel during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at the Jantar Mantar on Saturday, prompting Delhi Police to transfer the complaints to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry, an officer said on Sunday.
On Saturday, one of the women journalists told PTI that an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) sexually assaulted her.
The Crime Branch will examine the allegations and record the statements of the complainants and others concerned as part of the inquiry, the officer said.
The Press Council of India has expressed shock and dismay over the police’s treatment of journalists covering the protest and urged Delhi Police to immediately act on the complaints.
