New Delhi, Sep 4: The Congress demanded on Friday that self-styled “Hindutva influencer” Swatantra Bhardwaj be arrested within 24 hours in connection with the alleged assault of student activist Nishu Azad’s father during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said the Delhi Police should not “act like a puppet” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a press conference here, Lamba highlighted several issues besides Azad’s case, such as the alleged police assault of journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, the online targeting of Ruchika Singh, a girl who participated in the Jantar Mantar protest, and the arrest of student-activist Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA) in Noida.
The order to detain Chaudhary was subsequently quashed by the Allahabad High Court.
Lamba asserted that the Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, stand with all these young women in their fight for justice.
Referring to Azad’s case, she alleged that Bhardwaj had recounted anecdotes involving violence and used derogatory language against Dalits in a video, yet no adequate legal action was taken against him.
“We demand that Swatantra Bhardwaj be arrested and jailed within 24 hours,” Lamba said.
She said Azad had voiced her views democratically during the protest at Jantar Mantar and it was during this time that her father was allegedly assaulted. The Congress has demanded that action be taken under appropriate legal sections, including for attempted murder, in the matter.
Raising the issue of the alleged assault of journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, the Mahila Congress president demanded the immediate suspension of the police personnel involved in the incident.
She also demanded that the Delhi government make the CCTV footage related to the incident public.
“The Congress stands with these daughters, including Nishu Azad, and will extend all possible support to ensure that they get justice,” Lamba said. (PTI)
