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Expelled Congress Member Angkita Dutta Seeks “Nyay” From Rahul Gandhi Against Youth Congress Leader Srinivas

The Commune

On 18 January 2024, as Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by the senior Congress leader, entered Assam, Angkita Dutta, an expelled member of the party, staged a protest in Amguri town of Sivasagar district, demanding justice. Angkita, the daughter of former Assam Congress Minister Anjan Dutta, was ousted from the party after making serious harassment allegations against the National Youth Congress president, Srinivas B.V., during her tenure as the president of Assam Youth Congress.

Angkita had filed a police complaint against Srinivas, and the case is currently under consideration at the Supreme Court.

Simultaneously, Amguri witnessed the display of large posters featuring images of Angkita Dutta and Rahul Gandhi from the inaugural leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which occurred a year ago. The posters carried messages such as “Nyay for Angkita” and “Are you tired of the injustice women face every day?”

Angkita Dutta contested on a Congress ticket twice from her family stronghold of Amguri but was defeated by the Asom Gana Parishad candidate on both occasions. In her filed police complaint dated April 19, 2023, at the Dispur police station, she alleged persistent harassment and mistreatment by Srinivas. The accusations included sexist comments, the use of derogatory language, and threats of severe consequences if she continued reporting him to senior party officials.

Furthermore, in her complaint, she detailed instances during the Congress party’s plenary meeting in Raipur where the accused harassed her, physically assaulted her by grabbing her arm, employed vulgar language, and warned of jeopardizing her political career within the party if she exposed him. In compliance with the IT Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code related to the harassment of women, the police registered an FIR.

Speaking to CNN News18, she said: “Suddenly I had faced over 6 months certain things, the matters I cannot say because the matter is subjudice and I had complained regarding that. When I had complained to the senior leadership, instead of having an inquiry committee, they gave an inquiry on me. After that I was shocked. And I thought I will never be able to get justice if I stick within the four walls of the party explaining things. So, then I filed an FIR and subsequently, they expelled me for 6 years from the party. It’s been 10 months, I have been in exile. I have not joined any other political party. 

10 months I have been in the villages working with the Congress people, still mobilising them, still working with them, although I was not holding any official post or position. And all hope came back when this yatra happened and I got to know he was coming to Amguri and he was coming to Assam. All my people, the elected representatives from Congress, the AP members, Ward members, they all advised that why don’t we appeal to Rahulji, he is coming to give “nyay” so we will ask him for Nyay (justice). So we decided together that we will stand along his route.”

Srinivas BV, National President – Indian Youth Congress, was being set up against the BJP’s Tejasvi Surya and positioned as the ‘saviour’ during the second surge of the Covid-19 pandemic. The toolkit which was in action at that time recommended amplifying SOS redressals and the “priority assistance” to journalists, media professionals, and other influential individuals. Media houses “picked” up his popularity wave as he “helped” all the above-mentioned with their SOS requests via the Youth Congress platform. Among these friendly media houses were The Quint and The Print – the latter even interviewing Srinivas. Around this time, Delhi Police was also investigating Srinivas over some matter. Party supporters and other left-liberals ensured his Messiah image was amplified well. Here is one netizen calling him Oxygen Man!

Srinivas was back in the news in 2023 over the “price” of LPG cylinders. Some of his posts include:

 

 

He also made the following statement on the price rise of LPG cylinders. “When price of a gas cylinder was Rs 400, she (Smriti Irani) used to talk about ‘mehangayi daayan’ & now the price has reached Rs 1100 & that ‘daayan’ has now become darling. This is what I said before. What is wrong in this?”

Given that Srinivas has a special place in the Congress party, will justice be delivered to Angkita?

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