Woman Congress worker alleges molestation by male party workers during Juhu protest
The candle light march was organised by the party at Juhu last Sunday (Picture: Sanjay Nirupam)
A female Congress worker has complained to the party’s Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam about alleged molestation at the hands of male colleagues during the candle march held to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases.
The protest march was organised by the party at Juhu last Sunday.
The woman, who is a district-level party worker, sent a text message to Nirupam about the alleged incident. The Mumbai unit chief, meanwhile, has promised to take action against those found guilty.
“The workers of Youth Congress and NSUI (student wing) stooped to such low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our very own party’s male colleagues,” she said in her message.
“Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces were captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?” she added.
Nirupam, in a conversation with PTI, condemned the incident and called it ‘unfortunate’.
“I told the woman that we would take action if she identifies the persons involved. I told her that if she wished, he would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much crowd, so it won’t be possible for her to identify them.”
He said the woman enthusiastically participates in all dharnas and morchas organised by the city unit.
“She does not participate alone but brings along with her over a dozen women members. I have apologised to her for the agony she had to suffer on Sunday. Male workers often rush ahead in any morchas, so that their faces can be seen on television cameras,” he said.
The Congress leader said he will issue the do’s and don’ts to be followed during the protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. “If the instructions are not followed, action would be taken,” he concluded.
In a similar incident, a woman walking by Carter Road promenade was harassed by an alleged drunk man while a similar protest was underway at Bandra last week.
With PTI inputs
