Angkita Dutta, the former Assam Youth Congress chief, has been expelled from the party for six years for what the Congress called ‘anti-party’ activities after accusing Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV of sexism and harassment. In response to her removal, Dutta questioned whether it was due to her gender and said that she was removed without any prior warning.
Dutta, who is the daughter of former Assam minister Anjan Dutta, accused BV Srinivas of using derogatory comments and being тАЬsexist and chauvinistic.тАЭ She also lashed out at Priyanka Gandhi and her brother, Rahul Gandhi, for not taking any actions against Srinivas despite her complaints.
Dutta alleged that Srinivas had harassed and tortured her for the last six months and threatened her with dire consequences if she complained to higher office-bearers of the Congress. The legal cell of the Indian Youth Congress responded by promising to take strict action against Dutta for levelling ‘frivolous allegations’ against the IYC president.
The next day, Dutta claimed that she was removed from her position as Assam Youth Congress President and blamed an in-charge, Vardhan Yadav, for acting at the behest of BV Srinivas. Srinivas also sent a legal notice to Dutta for defaming him.
The National Commission for Women has asked the Assam Police to investigate the harassment allegations made by Dutta and has requested that the Director General of Police, Assam, submit a detailed report of the case. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that police will be involved if the Congress cannot handle the matter internally.
