By Saraswat Kashyap: Several leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who were once in Congress, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, have extended their support to expelled Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) President Angkita Dutta. She had accused national Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV of “mental harassment” and “discrimination” on the basis of gender.

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday slammed the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and said that the state unit of the grand old party handled the situation poorly.

“It would have been good to see the Assam Congress giving support to Angkita and raising their voice for her. But we saw a totally different picture. It is an internal matter of the Congress and if they resolve it within themselves, the police would not need to step in. But if the matter is not resolved soon, they will have to take up the matter,” Sarma said.

ALSO READ | NCW seeks probe into harassment charges against Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV

“An FIR has also been lodged and the NCW has also written a letter to the Assam DGP in this regard. I will advise the Congress to keep the police away as we would not like that an Assam’s daughter will need to go to court. I think the Congress should solve the matter mutually but if it remains unsolved for long, then, the law will have to take its course of action,” Sarma added.

Another BJP leader Ajanta Neog, who left Congress to join the BJP just before the 2021 Assam Assembly polls, and is currently the Assam finance minister too expressed disappointment over Congress’s handling of the matter and “sidelining Angkita Dutta”.

“The allegations the Congress has brought against Angkita Dutta is very unfortunate and I feel that there should be an inquiry into the entire matter. If Angkita does not get justice, then I feel the womenfolk will stop coming forward to join politics. It seems a woman is not safe in her own party and it is really very unfortunate,” she said.

BJP leaders’ remarks came after Angkita Dutta accused Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV of sexism and harassment. She was expelled from the party earlier today for six years.

Dutta claimed that she was removed as the Assam Youth Congress chief without any prior warning and questioned whether the removal was on account of her gender. She accused BV Srinivas of being “sexist and chauvinistic” and using derogatory comments.

ALSO READ | Was I removed from Assam Youth Congress chief post because I am a woman?

“Hon’ble Congress President has expelled Dr Angkita Dutta, President Congress Assam Pradesh Youth Congress, from the primary membership of the party, for six years, for her anti-party activities, with immediate effect,” read a statement released by the AICC.

Taking to Twitter, Angkita referred to Srinivas as ‘sexist’ and ‘chauvinistic’, adding: “I am a woman leader. If I undergo such harassment, how am I supposed to encourage other women to join?”

She had also accused Rahul Gandhi of not initiating action despite being apprised of the matter several months ago. In response, Srinivas had issued a legal notice to her threatening legal proceedings in the absence of a public apology.

The Congress dismissed the charges, saying they were politically motivated.