Dr Angkita Dutta, former president of the Assam Youth Congress wing, has launched a scathing attack against the party youth wing’s national president Srinivas BV for harassment and abusive language. In a series of tweets, the former state youth Congress chief on Tuesday accused the two leaders of discriminating against her on the basis of her gender. Calling Srinivas “sexist” and “chauvinistic”, Dutta accused him of torturing and demeaning a woman.
“How can a sexist and chauvinistic lead @IYC torture and demean a woman every single time. What happened to @priyankagandhi ladki hoon ladh Shakti hoon,” she wrote.
“@IYC President @srinivasiyc has continually harassed me and was discriminating on the basis of my gender. My values and education doesn’t allow me anymore. The leadership has played deaf ears despite bring front of them MANY TIMES @RahulGandhi @kcvenugopalmp @priyankagandhi. (sic)” she tweeted.
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She said that she had apprised the Congress leadership of the same but there was no action. In one of the tweets, she alleged that Srinivas thinks he has the “blessing of big leaders” and so he can get away with the harassment.
She also accused the IYC secretary in charge of harassment, saying the two leaders are making posters to defame her.
Her allegations have prompted Srinivas to send a criminal defamation notice to her.
Refuting the allegations, the Congress youth wing president accused her of using "utterly unparliamentary, undignified, defamatory, malicious words” against members of the Indian Youth Congres.
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“Whoever is found indulged in propagating/peddling false & defamatory content will be held liable under the relevant laws & will be held accountable for their acts,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked the Assam Police to conduct an inquiry into the harassment allegations levelled against Srinivas.
The commission said, in a statement, that it came across Dutta’s Twitter post enclosing screenshots of posts alleging harassment, use of derogatory language and discrimination against Srinivas, adding they were "appalled and disappointed".
The NCW also took cognizance of Dutta’s allegations despite raising her grievance with Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu, no action was taken on her complaint.
"Therefore, considering the gravity of the matter, Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the Director General of Police, Assam to personally look into it and conduct an inquiry into the allegations levelled by Dr Angkita Dutta in a fair and time-bound manner. A detailed report must be apprised to the Commission. Meanwhile, the Commission will also be inquiring into the matter," the NCW said.
