BJP seeks CBI probe in suicide, Kejri offers help to kids

NEW DELHI: Two days after an AAP worker committed suicide alleging sexual harassment, BJP stepped up its attack on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal by protesting outside his residence and demanding a CBI probe in the case.
The deceased worker’s family, including her two schoolgoing daughters, met Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat and were offered full support by the CM.
Kejriwal asked the family to let him know where the two girls would be living and who would be taking care of them.“He assured the family that he will support the children like his own,” said a government spokesperson.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta held a protest outside the CM’s residence accompanied by the two BJP MLAs, OP Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan. “We have demanded a CBI probe in the matter,” said an agitated Gupta. He also sought Kejriwal’s resignation and action against AAP Delhi in-charge Dilip Pandey.
On Thursday evening, a candlelight protest was organised by Delhi BJP along with the husband of the deceased. The event, which was earlier called “a family protest”, was joined by BJP MPs Udit Raj, Maheish Girri, Meenakshi Lekhi, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Ramesh Bidhuri, the three Delhi MLAs and party state president Satish Upadhyay. They demanded “justice for the victim” and “immediate suspension of Delhi government”.
Around 500 protesters carrying placards targeting the CM marched from Jantar Mantar till Central Park in Connaught Place. A heavy police contingent was seen controlling the crowd that, at times, turned unruly.
“AAP came to power on the issue of women’s safety, but they themselves have so many lumpen elements within their party,” said Mahesh Girri.
Carrying a placard of the deceased woman, her husband seemed out of place and remained mostly quiet throughout the march. “My wife took this extreme step as could not bear the mistreatment anymore. Ramesh Bharadwaj was aided by the AAP MLA from Narela. We met the CM in the morning and he has promised us justice,” he said.
“My younger daughter is in severe shock and I am worried about the future of my children. Their grandmother is taking care of them. The CM has promised to help in their education, but no concrete steps have been outlined,” he added.
BJP member Shazia Ilmi, who was earlier part of the India Against Corruption movement and an AAP functionary, said, “I have worked within AAP. I know what kind of criminal elements continue to be in it just because they have political utility. If party activists are unsafe, how can Delhi women feel safe? The DCW chief won’t speak against them as she is their paid employee.”
“The woman was harassed even more after approaching Dilip Pandey. The question is not of Kejriwal promising to help the children but who will bring their mother back. Earlier, they had even denied that she was an AAP member. This is a clear case of abetment to suicide by AAP,” Upadhyay said.