AAP files complaint against VK

A day after Union minister V. K. Singh made controversial “dog” remark on the dalit killing in Faridabad in Haryana, the Aam Admi Party on Friday filed a police complaint against the former Army Chief, demanding registration of an FIR under the SC/ ST Act. Party legislators Saurabh Bhardwaj, Vishesh Ravi, Rakhi Birla, Hazarilal Chauhan and spokesperson Ashutosh met police officials at central Delhi’s Prasad Nagar police station in this regard. “The police told us that they would first inquire into the complaint,” Mr Bhardwaj said.

Ashutosh alleged that Mr Singh’s remarks amounted to a violation of the SC/ ST Act and said that the police “assured” the delegation of conducting an investigation into the matter that has snowballed into a major political row.

“The police told us that they need to take permission from the higher- ups as filing any case under the SC/ ST Act requires approval from a DCP- rank officer,” Ashutosh said, adding that “Mr Singh’s status as a minister should not affect it.” He also rubbished the minister’s clarification as an afterthought in view of the Bihar polls. Mr Singh had insisted a controversy has been created out of “unconnected sentences.” “BJP and RSS are inherently anti- dalit and antiminorities and that’s why such statements are being issued,” Ashutosh said.

The delegation led by AAP MLAs from reserved constituencies also met P. L. Punia, chairman of the SC Commission and vice- chairman Rajkumar Verka, demanding action against Mr Singh for the comments made by him.

“We met P. L. Punia as well as Rajkumar Verka and both have assured us that action would be taken against Singh. They told us that by November 2, an FIR will be registered and they will call the DCP of the Delhi police to ask him on what sections a case could be registered,” Ms Birla said.

AAP legislators Birla ( Mangolpuri), Rajendra Gautam ( Seemapuri), Prakash Jarwal ( Deoli) and Manoj Kumar ( Kondli) also visited the family of a 15- year- old Dalit boy, who allegedly died in police custody in Sonipat in Haryana recently.

— PTI Police personnel try to remove students protesting at the University Grants Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Friday over the scrapping of fellowship awarded so far to non- National Eligibility Test research scholars.

— PTI AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, Rakhi Birla and Ashutosh meet National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman P. L. Punia and vice- chairman Raj Kumar Verka in New Delhi on Friday.