Women Congress MPs complain to Speaker over ‘manhandling’

New Delhi: Two Congress women lawmakers on Monday lodged a complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the security staff of the House accusing them of pushing and “manhandling” them while they were protesting “peacefully” during proceedings.

Members Remya Haridas and S. Jothimani lodged the complaint alleging they were manhandled at a time when they were protesting against the Centre over formation of BJP-led government in Maharashtra with support of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar pledging support of some party MLAs in the state.

In their complaint to Birla, the women lawmakers claimed that they were standing near the Speaker’s podium along with other party leaders holding placards when the security staff pushed and manhandled them.

“Security staff pushed and manhandled all of us when we were protesting peacefully. We feel very hurt and annoyed. There is no lady security staff inside. Male security staff pushed and manhandled us. What is happening inside Parliament? Even they have female security staff. We were just protesting for our democratic rights. Our dignity, safety and fundamental rights to protest inside Parliament is completely compromised.”

“Congress President Sonia Gandhi was present in Parliament when all this happened. We have lodged a complaint to the Speaker to take action against the people who manhandled us,” Haridas told the media.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also alleged that women parliamentarians were “manhandled” in the Lok Sabha when they were protesting in the well of the House over the Maharashtra issue.

“Security personnel manhandled our women parliamentarians. We have never experienced this inside Parliament. We will be waiting to see what action has been taken against responsible people,” Chowdhury said.