Congress worker says she was molested by partymen

MUMBAI: A woman Congress worker from the party’s Mumbai unit has complained that she was allegedly molested by her male colleagues on Sunday during a candlelight march held to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases in Juhu.

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam has promised to take strict action against the men if she identifies them.

“The workers of the Youth Congress and NSUI (the party’s student wing) stooped to such a low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our own party’s male colleagues. Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces could be captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?” she asked in the text message sent to Mr Nirupam.

Reacting to the issue, Mr Nirupam said, “This incident is very unfortunate and I condemn it. I told the woman that I would take action if she identifies the persons
involved. I told her that if she wished, I would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much of a crowd, so it was not possible for her to identify them.”

He said the woman worker 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 would issue do’s and don’ts to be followed during protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. “If the instructions are not followed, action will be taken,” he said.