AAP's Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia was released after being detained by Delhi Police from the National Commission for Women (NCW) office on Thursday. Italia appeared before the NCW over a controversial video in which he was allegedly heard using derogatory language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid protests by AAP workers outside the women's panel's office in Delhi.
An NCW official told PTI that Italia was detained after the hearing for "creating a situation that disrupted law and order in the area".
After Italia's release, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and said that "The people of Gujarat won". Kejriwal said Italia's detention had triggered massive anger in the Patel community across Gujarat.
Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia termed Italia's detention as "BJP politics" and alleged that he had been "detained because he belonged to a party that knew how to transform schools".
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma had summoned Italia for using "abusive and indecent language" against PM Modi and said his comment was "gender biased, misogynist and condemnable".
While Italia was at the NCW office, several AAP workers gathered in large numbers outside to protest against the summon.
Taking to Twitter, Rekha Sharma shared a photograph and said, "All the @AamAadmiParty hulligons are outside my office creating a ruckus. @CPDelhi @SouthwestDcp @PMOIndia."
The NCW chief said the AAP Gujarat chief did not give proper reply to their questions.
"He denied getting a summon but his reply is ready. He also denied his presence in the video but in his reply, he accepts tweeting. He had claimed it wasn't him in the video," ANI quoted Sharma as saying.
"His statement and written statement don't match. He hasn't given a proper reply. I've told police too that action should be taken against him because he was creating an atmosphere to impact the law and order situation. His supporters attempted to enter (NCW office) forcefully," she further said.
Last week, BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya shared a video on Twitter where Italia could be heard calling PM Modi a "neech aadmi" (lowly person) following which the NCW took cognisance.
"An indecent word for Prime Minister is also an insult to the women of our country. The abusive language used by you is gender biased, misogynistic and extremely shameful, condemnable and unbecoming of you," the NCW had said in its summons issued on October 9.
(With inputs from agencies)