Former Congress employee accuses seniors of sexual harassment
In a blow to the Congress, a former member of its social media team has accused a senior of repeated sexual harassment, Asianet News reports. When she complained to Divya Spandana, Congress's social media head, she apparently dismissed her allegations and blamed her for her work performance instead. She has now filed a police complaint and also written to party chief Rahul Gandhi.
Senior used to encircle her, kept staring, touched unnecessarily
The 28-year-old woman used to report to Spandana and coordinated regularly with Spandana's aide Chirag Patnaik. According to her, Patnaik used to stare at her "almost daily," and would "encircle" her from behind when she worked at the computer while "exhal(ing) into my breathing space." He would also rest his legs on drawers, "pointing his shoes at me in a manner most disgraceful and disrespectful."
When she complained, Spandana allegedly shielded her colleague
It took her some time to confront him since "he had the power to get anyone fired from the office," but she lost patience towards the end, she said. When he didn't stop even after she told him off, she approached Spandana, but "(she) diverted the topic to my work performance." "She humiliated me with insulting work-related messages. My professionalism and manners were questioned."
Woman worked with Congress for less than three months
Having joined Congress's social media cell on March 5, she "broke down inconsolably on May 23 and never returned to office." "My fight is a fight between a person (me) and the department (Congress' social media team). It isn't a fight between me and the party. The onus is now on the High Command," the victim told Asianet. An FIR has been registered.
She had said she loved working here: Spandana reacts
Responding to the allegations, Spandana said their internal committee hadn't received any such complaint from the woman. She had resigned citing "personal reasons and health issues," Spandana said. "Her resignation letter stated: 'I loved working here, thank you for the opportunity'." "We have now reached out to the ex-worker and awaiting her response," she said, displaying the signatures of 39 team members who backed Patnaik.
