An anganwadi union on Wednesday alleged that women workers, who were protesting outside an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office in the city, were molested and clothes of some torn by party supporters. Despite multiple messages and calls, an AAP spokesperson did not offer a comment.
Anganwadi workers protesting near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
“Around 3 p.m., our workers were protesting outside an AAP office in Johripur (in north-east Delhi) and AAP supporters manhandled and molested our workers and their clothes were also torn. Later, police came at the spot and five union members were taken to the police station and kept there for two hours. Workers gheraoed the police station and only after that were they released,” said Shivani Kaul, president of the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union. Ms. Kaul said they have given a written complaint to the police against AAP leaders for manhandling and molesting women workers. “They didn’t take our complaint initially but took it after we put pressure. Every day we will be going to some AAP office in the city to protest apart from the main protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence,” she said.
Delhi Police said that around 10 persons were removed from outside a residence in Johripur and brought to Karawal Nagar police station and later let off. “We have received complaints from both sides — supporters of anganwadi workers and those they quarrelled with — and both complaints are being examined. Legal action will be taken based on merits,” a senior police officer said.
Day 17 of strike
Demanding higher wages, hundreds of women anganwadi workers and helpers under the banner of Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union have been on an indefinite strike for the past 17 days near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in north Delhi.
From Monday, the workers have stepped up the protest and have started protesting outside offices of different AAP MLAs too. On Tuesday, they protested outside AAP MLA Dilip Pandey’s office. On Monday, they had protested outside AAP MLA Haji Yunus’ office. There are around 20,000 anganwadi workers and helpers in the city. According to the union, about 10,000 are protesting outside Mr. Kejriwal’s residence.
