Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Delhi Police of following a pattern of silencing women who raise questions and demanded action against officers accused of assaulting and mistreating women.
Gandhi made the remarks in a post on X accompanying a video of his recent interaction with journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan.
The two journalists have alleged that they were assaulted at Saket police station after going there to cover the inauguration of a new wing at Max Hospital in Saket by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
“What’s happening in Delhi right now follows a single pattern: silence any woman who dares to ask questions,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi.
Referring to recent protests at Jantar Mantar, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said hundreds of people had been detained and female protesters had alleged misbehaviour by male police personnel.
He also alleged that cameras were snatched from women journalists and that they were dragged by police, while no FIR was registered on a journalist's complaint.
Gandhi said Shaheen and Nafisa had recently recounted their experiences of alleged violence and mistreatment inside the Saket police station.
“Think about it -- inside the station, the very place where women go to file complaints,” he said.
He alleged that those responsible for protecting women had instead become a threat to them, and said “everyone in this country knows who the Delhi Police answers to”.
Gandhi demanded that the entire CCTV footage from the Saket police station be made public and that immediate action be taken against the police officers found guilty.
“Shaheen, Nafisa, and all those who have faced violence and misbehaviour from the Delhi Police must get justice. Mr Amit Shah -- why are you and your police so afraid of women?” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
