Ex-Assam Youth Congress chief gets notice for 'defaming' national head
What's the story
Hours after Angkita Dutta, former Youth Congress President of Assam, accused the party's National President Srinivas BV of "sexism" and "harassment," the latter sent a criminal defamation notice to her.
In a press statement, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) said, "Dutta resorted to using utterly unparliamentary, undignified, defamatory, malicious words against Srinivas," adding that her allegations were "politically motivated."
Context
Why does this story matter?
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Dutta accused Srinivas and IYC secretary in-charge Vardhan Yadav of harassing her mentally and discriminating on the basis of gender for six months.
She referred to Srinivas as "sexist" and "chauvinistic," alleging that even after complaining to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, no inquiry was initiated against him.
Meanwhile, the IYC said the accusations were false and baseless.
Accusations
Srinivas asked me whether I drink vodka: Dutta
Dutta, who is the daughter of former Assam minister Anjan Dutta, told ANI, "During the Raipur plenary session, Srinivas asked me "Ae ladki, kya peeta hai tum, vodka peeta hai kya?' I was appalled. I was...shocked that I kept quiet."
She also tagged Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her tweet and asked, "Is this the safe space? Rahul Gandhi talks about women?"
Twitter Post
Watch: Dutta levels harassment charges against Srinivas
#WATCH | "For the past 6 months, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Srinivas BV & his IYC secretary in-charge Vardhan Yadav have been harassing me continuously. I've complained about this to the leadership but till now no enquiry committee has been initiated against them,"… pic.twitter.com/jbJIPldDHa
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2023
IYC's statement
Dutta in constant touch with Assam CM: IYC
The IYC's press release further stated that Dutta's tenure as the President of Youth Congress (PYC) was over, but even "after the declaration of the state PYC election, she was not discharging her duties competently."
The statement further said that Dutta's name had come up in the Saradha Chit Fund Scam case and she was in touch with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Twitter Post
Legal notice by Srinivas in response to Dutta's allegations
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:-
— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) April 18, 2023
"When one person makes an accusation, check to be sure he himself is not the guilty one. Sometimes it is those whose case is weak who make the most clamour."
Whoever is found indulged in propagating/peddling false & defamatory… https://t.co/A41j6nvn8o pic.twitter.com/aewplKzI1w