Bharti controversy: Kejriwal meets Lt Governor

Updated on : 23-01-2014 12:31 PM

Aam Admi Party Leaders led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met with the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung to discuss with him the security situation of the state and brief him on the stand taken by his party on Delhi's law Minister Somnath Bharati.

The law Minister has come under scathing attack from both opposition BJP and the Congress which has given support to the government. AAP leadership including Arvind Kejriwal are facing severe criticism for defending Somnath Bharati who has allegedly misbehaved with women and who has been indicted by a CBI court for tempering with evidence in a case of corruption. Meanwhile, Congress has said that unlike Arvind Kejriwal's stance that they will not negotiate on the issues for which they were holding the Dharna, he has negotiated with the Lieutenant Governor. Congress has said that will not rush towards any decision of withdrawing support or seeking the chief Minister's resignation but are wary of whether to trust Arvind Kejriwal words anymore. Congress local unit led by Delhi PCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely and CLP leader Haroon Yusuf will be meeting Jung on Thursday to press for the resignation of some state Ministers including Law Minister Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla. Pressure mounted for removal of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti after one of the African women assaulted in a midnight raid in south Delhi, accused him of having led the group that barged into her house and attacked them. Women's organisations have demanded resignation of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti for his alleged racist remarks and harrasment meted out to African nationals. They have written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking action against Bharti for his alleged role in an incident in a south Delhi locality, last week. Chairperson of National Commission for Women, Mamta Sharma told media in New Delhi that Somnath Bharti should have resigned on moral grounds, for taking law into his hands. She said, the Chief Minister should also have taken note of the case and asked Bharti to resign from his post. In another development, Delhi Women Commission has issued summons to Bharti for his role in the alleged harassment of Ugandan women. Congress Women's wing head Shobha Oza described Somnath Bharti's act as irresponsible and sought action against him.