In another troublesome development for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), their MLA from Deoli, Prakash Jarwal, was arrested on Friday in Delhi, on charges of misbehaving with a woman. An FIR has been lodged against him at the Greater Kailash Police Station under sections 354, 506, 509 and 34 of IPC for misbehaving with a woman.
There is a long list of AAP MLAs who have been accused of molestation. Recently, MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly misbehaving with a woman and slapping a 60-year-old man. MLA Ankit Lal has also been accused on social media of abusing wife. In August 2015, MLA Kumar Vishwas was in trouble after a woman lodged a complaint accusing him of molesting her at a five-star hotel here. Prior to that, Vishwas and his wife were summoned by the Delhi Commission for Women after an AAP volunteer sought its help in a case, claiming that false rumours had been spread against her for having an illicit relationship with the leader.
It is shocking that as of August 2015, one-third of the 67 AAP legislators—including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goyal—had criminal cases pending against them. From land grabbing to extortion to molestation, there were 48 criminal cases against 22 AAP legislators at police stations in Delhi. Close relatives of three MLAs were also under the same cloud. It is equally troubling, is that none of the women MLAs of the party have been given any ministry, and Ms.Alka Lamba, was recently removed as spokesperson of the party.
Politicians across the world, are often embroiled in sexual harassment cases. Perhaps it is the heady combination of power, and interaction with different kinds of women on a daily basis, that leads to so many of these unfortunate incidents. In light of upcoming elections in various states, wherein AAP is trying to create its hold and increase its electoral base, perhaps it is time for the party to go for some form of an introspection. Including more women in its cabinet would definitely have some positive impact for the party, which needs to be taken into consideration. As of now, having so many people of power who are being accused of different kinds of crimes, is reflective of some problem in the political skeleton of the party, which needs to be examined and addressed as soon as possible.
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