The memorandum demanded the immediate arrest of the BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of sexual harassment. It also sought the prompt establishment of a committee to investigate the police violence at Jantar Mantar.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Several progressive women’s organisations have strongly condemned the excessive use of force by Delhi Police personnel while detaining protesting wrestlers here at the weekend.
Representatives from several organisations including Jagmati Sangwan and Asha Sharma from the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Annie Raja and Dipti Bharti from the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Ritu Kaushik from the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), Mandvi from the Centre for Struggling Women (CSW), Vertika Mani from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and Poonam Kaushik from the Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan (PMS), on Tuesday, submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
The memorandum vehemently condemned the forceful eviction of the unarmed, peaceful protesters advocating for justice against sexual harassment. “Disturbingly, the protesters, including wrestlers and their supporters, were subjected to public humiliation, physical and verbal abuse by male police officers, groping, beatings, and unwarranted detentions lasting beyond sunset. These actions flagrantly violate the fundamental rights enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) – the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and Article 19(1)(b) – the Right to Assemble Peacefully, guaranteed to every citizen of the country,” the memorandum said.
The organisations regretted that the NCW chairperson was unavailable for the meeting despite prior intimation. Consequently, the memorandum was submitted to the chairperson’s personal secretary. The delegation expressed its disappointment with the NCW chairperson’s lack of attentiveness toward pressing issues concerning the welfare of women in the nation.
The delegation also visited Delhi Police headquarters where the Commissioner of Police was unavailable, and therefore, the memorandum was submitted at his office.
The memorandum posed a pertinent question: “If internationally acclaimed sportswomen, who have brought honour to the country, are treated in such a manner, how can an ordinary woman in India hope to get justice?”
The memorandum said it was deplorable that instead of apprehending the accused, who faces multiple charges of sexual abuse under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) (POSH) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Acts, the Delhi Police targeted the victims of sexual abuse and harassment. These victims, exercising their fundamental right to protest, were peacefully seeking justice.
The memorandum demanded the immediate arrest of the BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of sexual harassment. It also sought the prompt establishment of a committee to investigate the police violence at Jantar Mantar.
