HP Congress MLA slaps woman cop, gets it back
SHIMLA: Dalhousie Congress legislator Asha Kumari on Thursday hit a woman constable after she was stopped from entering the party office in Shimla and was slapped back by the cop.
Kumari, 62, who is also in charge of party affairs in Punjab, was allegedly trying to force her way inside the Congress office on Circular Road to attend a review meeting held by party chief Rahul Gandhi when the incident took place.
Rahul, on his part, disapproved of the party legislator’s action. “Raising hand on anyone is against Congress culture. One should leave this kind of things for the opposition,” he said.
The constable, Rajvanti, filed a complaint against Kumari who was booked under IPC sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).
The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Earlier, Congress leaders and workers started jostling to enter the office soon after Gandhi went inside the building amid a tight security. Kumari and former ministers Dhani Ram Shandil and Mukesh Agnihotri got down from their vehicles outside the office and were stopped at the main gate by the constables on
It should not have happened. I did not like it Asha Ji. The Congress does not approve hitting someone. It’s the job of the BJP. RAHUL GANDHI, Cong president
security duty.
The MLA entered into a heated argument with Rajvanti after she was allegedly pushed. Kumari then slapped the woman constable, who hit her back. She was allowed to enter the Congress office after the fracas. Later, Kumari apologised for the incident blamed mismanagement for the incident. “It was my fault. I should not have slapped her. I apologise for my act. But none of those in uniform should misbehave with the public. I showed my identity card to the woman cop but she resorted to unparliamentary language and pushed me despite seeing my identity card,” said Kumari, who filed a complaint against the constable.
“We had instructions from SPG not to allow anyone inside the. venue without security pass. When I stopped her she got aggressive and accused me of pushing her. I tried to pacify her but she slapped me thrice. It was in self defence that I raised my hand,” said Rajvanti..
Posted at the Dhalli police station, Rajvanti, a gold medallist boxer, has been participating in police games.