The All India Mahila Congress (AIMC), on Monday, filed a police complaint in Delhi seeking action over obscene and offensive posts on social media targeting party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
The complaint was filed at the Sansad Marg police station, New Delhi. Similar complaints have been filed by the party in all state capitals seeking action, said the sources.
In fact, apart from New Delhi, the Congress filed police complaints across India against the social media posts which the party claims are vulgar, crude, and maligning Priyanka Gandhi.
The AIMC alleged that a campaign was unleashed on the social media in a bid to smear Gandhi’s name and reputation.
“Distasteful and offensive tweets, posts and pictures are doing the rounds of social media. This is exactly the kind of misogyny that acts as a deterrent for women to enter politics. To objectify women and humiliate them is shameful,” AIMC chief Sushmita Dev said after filing the complaint.
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Giving details of the offensive tweets and the handles posting them, the party sought action for various offences including outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment, and obscenity.
“In this age of cyber policing and much advertised curbs on offensive material online, it is surprising that the perpetrators are publishing such offensive posts without any fear of the law and without considering the far-reaching consequences of such acts on society,” said Dev.
Congress claims that ever since Priyanka Gandhi joined active politics there had been a systematic and malicious campaign against her on the social media.
The Congress has blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for triggering the campaign, pointing to the “sexist” remarks made by some of its leaders.
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Priyanka Gandhi was appointed the Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East in January following which there had been a barrage of comments, both directly and indirectly aimed at her, mostly from the BJP.
(With agency inputs)