Assam: Congress expels Angkita Dutta days after she complained about harassment by IYC President Srinivas BV

Assam, India: On April 22, Congress expelled Assam Youth Congress President Angkita Dutta for six years citing ‘anti-party activities.’ It is pertinent to note that she recently alleged harassment by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President Srinivas BV and his IYC Secretary In-Charge Vardhan Yadav for the past six months.

In her complaint, she alleged that Srinivas BV of persistently harassed her for the past six months, making sexist comments and threatening dire consequences if she complained against him. She stated in her complaint, “Recently, on March 25, 2023, when I was in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, I went to Hotel May Fair in the evening to meet the office bearers of the Congress. Bhupen Borah, state president of Congress, was there for the plenary session. I ran into Srinivas BV there at the entrance of the hotel. He heckled me, holding my arm, pushing and pulling me and threatening me, using slang words, saying that he will ruin my career in the Congress if I complained against him before the high office-bearers of the party.”

Angkita Dutta alleged that Srinivas BV threatened her that if she did not heed to his warnings, then he would ensure she cannot step outside Assam for any party meetings. She added, “On several occasions, I informed the high office-bearers of the Congress about such behaviour of the accused. However, that bore no result. As I think that the offence committed by the accused against me should not go unpunished, I have decided to lodge this complaint against him,” and urged the Assam Police to take action against him.

Furthermore, she has alleged that Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former MP and party President Rahul Gandhi, failed to take action against Srinivas BV. She said that she has informed Rahul Gandhi about the persistent harassment in Jammu during Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra but no inquiry was initiated against Srinivas BV.

“IYC President Srinivas has continually harassed me and was discriminating me on the grounds of gender. My values and education do not allow me anymore. The leadership has played deaf ears despite bring front of them many times Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi.”

She said, “I had a lot of faith in Rahul Gandhi and went to Jammu during Bharat Jodo Yatra to apprise him of Srinivas BV’s harassment and demeaning use of language towards me. It’s April now and still no enquiry against him.”

It is pertinent to note that Angkita Dutta is the late Anjan Dutta’s daughter and Anjan Dutta was an influential minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in Assam.

She further said in a tweet, “I am a four generations congressmen. I have contest internal organisation twice, make booth committee, beaten by police. My education from Pol Sc to LLB in Delhi Uni, to PhD in Guwahati University. We keep quiet for the sake of the party. But harassment doesn’t stop by Srinivas.”

Youth Congress Took Action Against the Whistle-blower

Responding to Angkita Dutta’s tweets, the IT cell of the Youth Congress said it is ‘initiating strong/stringent legal action’ against her for using ‘utterly unparliamentary, undignified, defamatory, malicious words’ against Srinivas BV.

Roopesh S Bhadauria, the head of the IYC, has sent a notice to Angkita Dutta and claimed that her allegations are “politically motivated and totally false.” The notice alleged that her name has come up in the Sharda Chit Fund Scam and ED/ PMLA cases and that she is “constantly in touch” with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

He has accused her of making the allegations “to create an atmosphere of leaving the Congress and to have a closure of these cases.” He also maintained that Angkita Dutta made “baseless claims” against Srinivas on multiple occasions without the “slightest of proof.”

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s reacts

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted to Angkita Dutta’s allegations against Srinivas BV alleging persistent harassment. He said, “It’s the internal matter of Congress.”

“Angkita Dutta is the daughter of Assam. The way Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has tackled this matter is sad…I would have been happy if Assam Congress talks in favour of her. But what we see is completely opposite,” he added.

He added, “She has complained to Rahul Gandhi and not me, so if I act they will question as why I am concerning about Congress’s internal matters. I want to make two things very clear unless she complains to us on the matter, we will not enter into it. 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.”