An Aam Aadmi Party activist, who had accused a fellow AAP member of sexual harassment, committed suicide on Tuesday. The woman consumed poison in her Delhi home and died in hospital, PTI reported.
According to her family, she had been depressed since the accused, Ramesh Wadhwa, was released on bail. She had suspected he was being shielded by an AAP leader, her family claimed. A senior police officer said, "The woman had filed a complaint against party colleague Ramesh Wadhwa for allegedly touching her inappropriately. A case of molestation was registered in June, and the accused was arrested."
Reacting to the incident, former Delhi Commission for Women chief Barkha Shukla Singh said the party has ‘neglected’ women since coming to power in the capital, even though women voted for them in large numbers. “Kejriwal has blindfolded himself and does not listen to anyone. If you really want to something for women then listen to them first. It is very shameful that a party worker has committed suicide after leveling such allegations. Those responsible should be strictly dealt with,” she said, according to The Indian Express.
The Bharatiya Janata Party accused AAP of being "anti-woman", saying the party ignored the woman's complaint for months. However, AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai denied that a party MLA was named in any complaint. "Whosoever is alleged to have harassed the girl has no connection with the party," he said, accusing the BJP of "playing politics over the death of a poor girl".
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