Restrain tongue, don’t resign, law Minister told
Despite facing mounting pressure from all fronts to remove law Minister Somnath Bharti, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continued to be adamant in defending the Cabinet Minister, who has been embroiled in a string of controversies.
The Delhi Government got into a defensive mode on Thursday by maintaining a stoic silence on the matter. According to sources, the Government has not only mobilised all its resources to find an 'escape route,' but it is also trying hard to cull out evidence in favour of the Minister from the midnight raid's prime footage.
The Government's legal troubles escalated on Thursday when a third woman registered a separate case against Bharti in the issue, accusing him and his supporters of sexual assault. An FIR had already been lodged against a "local MlA" and his supporters on the complaint of three other 'victims'. It is pertinent to mention here that Bharti has been elected from Malviya Nagar Assembly seat and Khirki Extension area is part of the constituency.
Sources close to the Chief Minister admit that Bharti had committed a mistake in the matter. While Kejriwal avoided the media, the law Minister did not report to his office.
However, in wake of the controversy, Bharti was summoned to the Political Affairs Committee meeting of the AAP on Thursday evening. The party refrained from taking any action against the Minister and chose to excuse itself by saying that it is awaiting the report of the enquiry ordered by Najeeb Jung. However, he was asked to desist from using "distasteful language," a clear hint at his recent remarks against senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley and lawyer Harish Salve. Addressing a Press conference after the meeting, the party's chief spokesperson, Yogendra Yadav said that prima facie, the party did not find anything wrong and Bharti did not misuse his powers as a Minister. He however said that action will be initiated against the Minister if he is found guilty in the enquiry ordered by the l-G.
Meanwhile, a city court on Thursday rapped the Delhi Police for its failure to take action on an Ugandan woman's plea for lodging an FIR against unknown persons for barging into her flat during last week's midnight raid allegedly led by Bharti. The court asked the DCP, South Delhi, to explain whether his office received any such complaint in this regard or not, as despite clear offence being made out in the complaint no action was taken by the police.
"Before passing any further order on the application.... I deem it necessary to call for a reply from the DCP concerned as to whether the complaint was received at his office and action was taken on the same," said Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh. The court sought the DCP's response on the issue by January 25. Notwithstanding the growing demand for Bharti's sacking from the Congress, BJP and other quarters, Kejriwal "has not changed" his position on the issue and is unlikely to take any action against the Minister before completion of a judicial probe in the case, sources added.
Hardening its stand against Bharti, a Congress delegation on Thursday met Delhi lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and asked him to direct the police to take immediate action against the Minister as he was not above the law of the land.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Vijay Goel along with his delegation also met the Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi on Thursday afternoon demanding immediate action against the Minister.
The AAP on the other hand is waiting for Delhi Police to initiate action before it moves. "We are waiting for the police to start investigation into the matter before the party can take any action against Bharti. Till then, the party will continue to support the Minister as the evidence against him is insufficient and he has only provided public service by conducting the raid," said senior party leader, Sanjay Singh.
When asked to comment on the matter, PWD and Education Minister, Manish Sisodia, who is the Chief Minister's close aide refused to comment on the matter and said that he would like to consult the CM before making any comments.