AAP action against Africans 'reprehensible': Tewari, Jaitley

The Congress and BJP have criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and termed as "reprehensible" and "unseemly" the vigilantism of Law Minister Somnath Bharti and AAP cadres in rounding up some African women.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari of the Congress tweeted that the action of the AAP cadres in forcing the African women to undergo medical tests was a "blot" and "reprehensible and obtuse".

"Blots record as the vanguard of the struggle against imperialism and apartheid. The sensitivity we expect from other nations we must display too," Tewari posted.

"Indo-African Relationship rooted in struggle against colonialism & racism. Treatment meted out to African ladies by AAP reprehensible & obtuse," he posted.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said in a tweet that the only redeeming part in Wednesday night's episode was the Delhi Police official who refused to obey the bidding of Bharti to conduct a midnight raid on a house in Khirkee Extension where the minister alleged a drug and prostitution racket was being run.

"Delhi Police ACP has stood by law and not meekly followed diktats of his Minister - the only redeeming feature in this unseemly episode," Jaitley posted.

"The action by AAP cadres to carry out medical tests which included cavity search on some women foreign nationals is contrary to law," the BJP leader wrote.

Four Ugandan nationals Friday registered a police case against "unknown persons" for misbehaving with them during the raid by the Delhi minister and his party cadres, police said.

According to witnesses, Bharti and party volunteers came in large numbers and tried to barge into a house, where many African nationals were staying, from which they claimed a "drug and sex ring" was operating.