The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Ashutosh for his controversial blog in which he had defended sacked Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar over an “objectionable” CD, saying it was a “consensual” act and that he had done no wrong.
“We have asked him to come on September 8. This is in response to what we feel is a very reprehensible and demeaning blog Ashutosh wrote, where he defended a man accused of rape,” said NCW Chairperson lalitha Kumaramangalam .
“The Commission has taken a note in the larger interest because we feel that as a spokesperson of a party that governs Delhi and a party whose members have been accused of many incidents of violence against women he should not be writing a blog like this which reeks of patriarchy and misogyny," she said. Ashutosh jumped the gun in terming the incident as an act among two consenting adults when a criminal investigation is underway,” she added.
“Why did he jump the gunIJ The police had taken cognisance immediately and there was no shroud on what action the police had taken. Jumping the gun is also a sign of patriarchy in our country. This is not a blog especially the spokesperson of a party, whose minister committed the crime, should be allowed to get away with,” Kumaramangalam said. “...Also, Ashutosh says that because Mao Zedong did it, it's okay. Because other people did it, it's okay. When you are in public life there are standards of rectitude that everybody is supposed to adhere to, man or woman,” she said.
Ashutosh had written in his blog that the video encompasses pictures of a man and woman indulging in a sexual act. The video clearly establishes that both individuals knew each other and consented to sex in a private space away from the public glare. The question then is that if two consenting adults are physically involved with each other, is it a crimeIJ"
Reacting on the matter, Ashotosh hit out at the NCW chairperson and said Kumaramangalam is a member of BJP national executive.