Probe harassment charge against Congress leader: Women’s panel tells Assam police

Guwahati: The National Commission for Women asked Assam police to probe the allegations of harassment made by Angkita Dutta, former Youth Congress chief, against the organisation’s current chief Srinivas BV.

Angkita Dutta, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, accused Srinivas and another Congress leader of discriminating against her on the basis of gender and called Srinivas as ‘ sexist and chauvinistic’, according to NDTV.

‘This has repeatedly been happening. I had been complaining within the organisation for months but nothing happened. I am on the verge of losing self-respect now because I am an educated woman and I work for women's issues,’ Angkita Dutta reportedly said.

Srinivas BV, who is now campaigning for the party in Karnataka, sent a defamation notice to Angkita Dutta for using ‘unparliamentary and defamatory’ words against him.

After the allegations surfaced, chairperson of the National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma, requested the Director General of Police, Assam, in writing for a ‘detailed report’ alongside probing the matter personally.

NCW chairperson reportedly said in a tweet that the commission will also be inquiring into the matter.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed it as the ‘internal matter of the party’, adding that police will take action after Angkita Dutta lodges an official complaint against the Congress leader.

‘I want to make two things very clear unless she complains to us on the matter, we will not involve ourselves. I believe that Congress's top leadership shall protect the dignity of an Assamese woman. When it comes to me, then l shall look into it,’ Himanta Biswa Sarma was quoted as saying.

Senior Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia called the allegations as an attempt to tarnish the image of the party.

The report further said that Dutta might file a complaint with the police.