AAP women delegation protests against sexual harassment by doctors

A delegation of women leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Delhi Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla protested outside the Lieutenant Governor (LG) residence on Sunday.

The group demanded justice for a woman doctor who was allegedly sexually abused by the medical superintendent of a Delhi hospital.

Despite prior notification from the LG, the delegation was not granted an audience with him, it said.

Speaking to media representatives, Birla accused the LG of underplaying women’s issues. “The LG is completely misogynistic. We stood in front of the LG’s residence for several hours but no one spoke to us. “Nobody even asked about the problem that brought us here,” she claimed.

The delegation included MLA Dhanwati Chandela, Preeti Tomar, Vandana Kumari, Bhavana Gaur and several other women councilors who condemned the government’s handling of the case.

They expressed outrage at the alleged harassment and rendition of the victim.

Birla said, “It was a shame that the elected women representatives of Delhi had come to meet the LG after informing him in advance. We understand the LG may have been busy, but he has a big staff – anyone could have met us.”

She further claimed that the LG’s refusal to engage with them showed his lack of respect for women. “After visiting Raj Niwas, it became clear that the LG does not respect women. He is misogynistic,” Birla said.

She added that the doctor has been seeking justice for over a year but her complaints have gone unheard by relevant authorities.

She added: “We came to raise the voice of the affected doctor, to show support and to demand the arrest of the person who harassed her.” Hundreds of police officers were deployed to stop us. Do we look like terrorists or criminals?”

She pointed out that Delhi’s security is the responsibility of the Union Home Ministry and the LG and their absence in the matter was alarming.

She added that the delegation had sent a letter to the US

However, it was returned by a low-level official. She said, “The Union Home Minister and the LG should be ashamed that they are waiting for an incident similar to what happened in Kolkata in Delhi.”

“If Delhi’s elected representatives had to wait for hours outside the LG House to raise their voice for a woman doctor, how much will the police listen to an ordinary woman?” she remarked.