The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday announced that it would form a Mahila Suraksha Dal in all Assembly constituencies and colleges to take up those cases of sexual harassment against women that policemen do not investigate properly.
Addressing reporters, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal claimed that it was his party’s intervention that forced the Delhi Police to act in the five-year-old girl’s rape case and brought the matter into the national spotlight a day later.
He said the activists of the proposed Mahila Suraksha Dal would visit police stations and put pressure on cops who were shoddily investigating rape cases. Mr. Kejriwal claimed that the AAP helpline was getting swamped with callers complaining about sexual abuse cases which the police were allegedly not probing.
“Unfortunately, we do not have enough manpower to take up all the complaints. I appeal to all Delhiites to sign up as volunteers. Even if you are not interested in working for the AAP you are welcome to join the Dal,” he said. Mr. Kejriwal said those interested in joining the Dal should SMS their contact details to 9212472681 or email volunteer@aamaadmiparty.org.
He said the new outfit intends to start functioning from May 6.
Mr. Kejriwal alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was “passing the buck” to the Union Government whenever complaints about the Delhi Police’s style of functioning were raised. “If the AAP forms a government in Delhi after the Assembly elections in November we will have to think about how to change this state of affairs. We will have a discussion with some former Army personnel and other ex-officials to think about what police reforms we can usher in,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
The AAP leader also ridiculed the BJP saying “what the Aam Aadmi Party protests about today, the BJP follows suit tomorrow”. Mr. Kejriwal also criticised the Union Government for providing “Z” category security cover to industrialist Mukesh Ambani saying Mr. Ambani could afford to hire the services of the best private security firms for his safety.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan demanded that an independent Police Complaints Authority be set up in Delhi and all States.
