Special Delhi Assembly session a 'big joke' on women: Congress

New Delhi: Accusing AAP of politicising the issue of women's safety, Congress on Tuesday said Delhi Government convening the special Assembly session to discuss security concerns was a "big joke" on women.

The Congress came down heavily on AAP MLA Somnath Bharti for his "beautiful women" remarks made during the session on Monday, and termed it as "shameful".

The party held Arvind Kejriwal responsible for the episode as the former Law Minister made the statement in the Chief Minister's presence.

Bharti had created a flutter on Monday by saying that "beautiful women" would be able to go out after midnight provided AAP Government takes over control of policing in Delhi.

"There can't be a bigger joke on women than this session convened by Delhi Government. The session would have been meaningful if Bharti was not part of discussions.

"Bharti says beautiful women can roam after midnight if policing system comes under the state government. This is shameful. Won't the government protect women who are average looking?" Congress leader and former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Singh asked during a press conference.

Training guns on Bharti, Singh asked whether he had meted out injustice to his wife Lipika Mitra as she was an "average looking" woman. Mitra had in June accused Bharti of domestic violence and also approached DCW in this regard.

"Everyone knows what Bharti did to his wife. She is an average looking woman. Is this is the reason he treated her so? Kejriwal should take cognisance of this," Singh demanded.

Congress also welcomed Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's decision to allow Bharti's prosecution in connection with his alleged misbehaviour with African women during a midnight raid in south Delhi in January, 2014. The party said the move would help the African women get justice.

On the intervening night of January 15-16, Bharti and his supporters had allegedly forcibly detained and threatened some African women during a confrontation with police in his constituency of Malviya Nagar here over inaction against a suspected drug and prostitution ring. Bharti, who was then a minister in the AAP government, had denied the charges.