Guwahati: Assam police on April 23 served notice to Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV to appear on or before May 2. The city police served the notice under section 41(A) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1973. It should be mentioned that expelled Assam Pradesh Youth Congress President (AIYC) Angkita Dutta on April 19 lodged a complaint against the Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV at Dispur Police Station, accusing the latter of harassment for the last six months.
This comes moments after Srinivas filed a defamation case against her and sent a legal notice. Angkita Dutta, in her complaint lodged at the police station, mentioned that Srinivas harassed her mentally and made sexist comments against her. She further accused him of using slang words and threatening her that if she kept complaining against him before the party top leaders, then she would face dire consequences.
Dutta also mentioned one of her encounters with him at a hotel in Chhattisgarh on March 25, where the Congress youth wing president heckled her holding her arm, pushing and pulling, and threatening her by using slang words that he would ruin her life in the Congress party.
She further stated that she did inform the senior party leaders about the continuous harassment. However, no action was taken against Srinivas BV.
Talking to the media, Angkita Dutta said, “I am a Congress party worker. I have not filed a complaint against the party but on a particular person, Srinivas BV. I have worked for the party and will continue doing so. I wish the accused to receive punishment for his deeds.” On the other hand, the Congress high command has expelled the young leader from the party’s primary membership for six years for indulging in anti-party activities.
Meanwhile, a team of Assam police reached the home of the accused youth Congress president Srinivas BV at Rajaji Nagar in Bengaluru. The team served the notice to the family members of the Congress leader, where he was asked to appear before the Assam police by May 2.
Meanwhile, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 22 said that the Congress party has expelled her from the party and they want to settle the case in court. So the police have to work according to the law and Assam police will do the same.
It should be mentioned that Dr Angkita Dutta levelled mental and physical harassment allegations against the All Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV. In a series of tweets, Dutta accused Youth Congress president Srinivas of “harassing” and “discriminating” with her. Interestingly the young leader alleged that after knowing the entire incident, Congress Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Badra kept total silence.
She also said that despite her flagging the issue multiple times, the party leadership has played “deaf ears” to the matter. Taking to Twitter, Angkita Dutta said, Srinivas has continually harassed me and discriminated against me on the basis of my gender. My values and education don’t allow me anymore.
The leadership has played deaf ears despite bringing in front of them many times.” She further tweets, “I am a fourth-generation congressman. I have contested internal organisations twice, made a booth committee, and been beaten by police. My education is from Pol Sc to LLB in Delhi University, to PhD at Guwahati University. We keep quiet for the sake of the party. But harassment doesn’t stop by Srinivas”.
Angkita Said, Srinivas asked her, ” ai ladki kya peekar raat ko phone kiya tha, Vodka? (Hey girl, what did you drink when you called me at night, Vodka?)
She added that despite facing “discrimination” for six months and her complaint to the senior leaders, no enquiry had been initiated and she has been asked to keep “mum”.
She further alleged, “Srinivas thinks he is so powerful, and has the blessing of big leaders that he can harass and demean a woman in the organisation,” Angkita said adding, “I have kept quiet for months waiting for them to take action against him yet no one seems interested. Srinivas in the guise of his PR is getting away with all kinds of wrong doings”.
Dutta continued, “I am a woman leader. If I undergo such harassment, how am I supposed to encourage women to join. She also questioned Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi over their commitment towards women’s safety.
The Assam Youth Congress leader further said, “How can a sexist and chauvinist leader demean a woman every single time remain in the post of the national president? What happened to Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘ladki hoon ladki sakti hoon’, Dutta questioned. It should be mentioned that Dr Angkita Dutta’s father, Anjan Dutta was the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) till his demise in 2016. He was also the 2 times minister in the previous Congress Government in Assam.
