Activist petitions rights panel against SP leader

A city-based social activist has petitioned the National Commission for Women (NCW) for action against senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Narendra Bhati for using foul language against a suspended IAS officer.

Nutan Thakur told IANS that she found Bhati's comments against suspended Indian Administrative Officer Durga Shakti Nagpal in a videographed speech at a Greater Noida village "very improper and unbecoming of a public leader".

"I have seen the video and the way the SP leader was swearing at the suspended woman official, I was prompted to send the complaint to the NCW," she said.

According to the activist, the SP leader, who is also chairman of UP Agro, had commented that "is****aurat ne itni behudgi yahaan ki... dande ko chaalees minute nahi jhel paayee (this****woman who did so much absurdity here could not sustain the wrath for 40 minutes)".

In a letter sent to NCW chairman Mamata Sharma Saturday, the activist requested her to take cognizance of the issue and initiate an inquire into the matter. "I have prayed to initiate all legal proceedings as per the inquiry report," she said.

Nagpal, who took on the sand mining mafia in Greater Noida (Gautam Budh Nagar), was suspended July 28. The UP government has, however, cited a different reason for her suspension. It said she was suspended for ordering demolition of a wall of a religious place in Noida.

Bhati has claimed that he rang up Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at around 10:30 a.m and by 11:11 a.m., Nagpal was served the suspension order.