Congress Expels Assam Youth Wing Chief After Harassment Complaint Against Srinivas BV

Assam Youth Congress president Angkita Dutta has been expelled from the party after she lodged a police complaint against IYC national president Srinivas BV, accusing him of harassment.

 The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Saturday expelled Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) President Angkita Dutta, from the primary membership of the party, for six years, for her “anti-party activities”, with immediate effect. This comes after she recently alleged harassment by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Srinivas BV and his IYC secretary in-charge Vardhan Yadav. She had alleged that Srinivas BV and IVardhan Yadav had been harassing her due to her gender for almost six months. She alleged that Srinivas made sexist comments and threatened of dire consequences if she complained against him.

“Hon’ble Congress President has expelled Dr Angkita Dutta, President Congress Assam Pradesh Youth Congress, from the primary membership of the party, for six years, for her anti-party activities, with immediate effect,” read a statement released by the AICC on Saturday.

Dutta on Thursday lodged a police complaint against Srinivas BV. In her complaint, Dutta accused IYC National President Srinivas BV of persistently harassing her for the past six months. 

Srinivas BV, in response, sent her a legal notice alleging defamation. 

Angkita Dutta's Complaint Against Youth Congress President Srinivas BV

Dutta, in her complaint, stated, “Recently, on March 25, 2023, when I was in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, I went to Hotel May Fair in the evening to meet the office bearers of the Congress. Bhupen Borah, state president of Congress, was there for the plenary session. I ran into Srinivas BV there at the entrance of the hotel. He heckled me, holding my arm, pushing and pulling me and threatening me, using slang words, saying that he will ruin my career in the Congress if I complained against him before the high office-bearers of the party.”

She alleged that Srinivas also threatened her to the extent that if she did not heed his warning, he would ensure that she cannot step outside the border of Assam for any party meeting. 

The Assam Youth Congress chief added, “On several occasions, I informed the high office-bearers of the Congress about such behaviour of the accused. However, that bore no result. As I think that the offence committed by the accused against me should not go unpunished, I have decided to lodge this complaint against him.” Dutta urged the Assam Police to take immediate action against Srinivas BV.

Earlier, she alleged in multiple tweets that Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, failed to take any action against Srinivas BV.

Angkita Dutta is the daughter of the late Anjan Dutta, an influential minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in Assam who headed the party's state unit.

Srinivas BV Sends Defamation Notice To Angkita Dutta

Srinivas BV responded to the matter with a tweet where he wrote: "'When one person makes an accusation, check to be sure he himself is not the guilty one. Sometimes it is those whose case is weak who make the most clamour.'"

"Sorry for not being able to answer BJP and their Sponsored stooges earlier because of the marathon election campaign in Karnataka, where BJP is all set to lose badly," he remarked.

In the defamation notice that he shared, the Youth Congress chief's counsel alleged "malicious intent".

"You have been constantly talking trash, throwing shade and telling lies about Shri Srinivas B.V. from your Twitter account without ever having the slightest of proofs regarding the same thus trying to ruin the reputation of my client," the notice reads.

"These posts are made without any scruple and thought as to the consequences of such derogatory remarks for the reputation and respect of the leaders amongst the public and your baseless tweet is nothing but would affect the citizens of this country," it claims.

(With Inputs By Pallav Bora)