A bitter war of words ensued on Wednesday over the alleged suicide of a woman activist of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with BJP holding the AAP responsible for the death, even as AAP accused the saffron party of playing politics “over dead bodies”.
leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijendra Gupta alleged that the entire AAP dispensation was “responsible” for the death of the 28-year-old woman Soni Mishra, who was “sexually harassed” by a few “members of AAP” for past few months.
Replying to the BJP charge, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh tore into BJP leader Gupta for allegedly “hijacking” the family of the victim and coming in the way of postmortem of the body. Gupta was forcing the family members of the woman to name AAP in the case, he alleged. Ashutosh accused Gupta of “stooping” to an unprecedented low and alleged that the woman was to be cremated at 1 PM at Nigambodh Ghat but even that could not take place. What sort of politics is thisIJ” Ashutosh asked.
Faced with a barrage of queries by journalists at the Press conference as to whether the party was not politicising the case, BJP Delhi Satish Upadhyay said, “If we do not take up people’s issues then who willIJ We will try to get justice for the family and if needed will meet the Home Minister too.”
AAP’s Delhi convener Dilip Pandey claimed that the accused Ramesh, who was arrested and later released on bail, was not a member of AAP as being claimed by the BJP and that the party had extended all possible help to the woman when she had approached it with the complaint.
“BJP leader Vijender Gupta is politicising the issue. He has stalled the postmortem of the body. BJP has a history of doing politics over dead bodies,” Pandey told reporters.
“It is a fact that she had contacted the party. The party assisted her and got an FIR lodged. In fact the Chief Minister’s Office had called the DCP office in this regard, but police chose not to act and the accused secured bail,” he said.
Demanding CM Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Women Commission Chairperson Swati Maliwal’s resignation over Soni’s suicide, Gupta said they have failed to provide safe and secure environment for women workers within their own party.
Gupta said, “As a result of the callous attitude of leaders, AAP women workers are undergoing mental and physical exploitation. There is a long list of sad tale of women workers.”
However, DCW chief Maliwal tweeted, “V sad case of Soni suicide. DCW counselor met SHO ACP n got her FIR filed. Court gv bail to accused. We demand strictest action in this case.” The woman allegedly committed suicide in Narela area of outer Delhi on Tuesday. Her family members claimed that she had gone into depression after her alleged molester was released on bail. Police said the woman consumed a poisonous substance at her home in the afternoon and died during treatment at lNJP Hospital.