‘Want cell to report harassment by male councillors’

The women councillors in the city demand a special cell to protect them from the harassment of their male counterparts.

‘Male councillors misbehaving with women councillors has become a regular phenomena in meetings and public places. A special court or cell that women councillors can go to, to seek justice if and when needed, should be established,’ said Preeti Singh in a letter written to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Tejendra Khanna. She also demanded that the male councillors should be fired from their posts if they misbehave with women. ‘We stepped out of our homes to contribute to the society. But some male councillors are very jealous of us. They misbehave and even use abusive language to dominate us. It hurts our sentiments. No action is being taken against them when we complain to higher authorities as they are in cohorts with them,’ added Singh in the letter. According to her, they have no option but to tolerate silently such behaviour from men.

Singh is an independent councillor from ward number 239 in Vivek Vihar in East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

Women councillors cutting across party line have supported her demand.

Former mayor of Delhi and BJP councillor in North MCD, Rajni Abbi, has also echoed a similar sentiment. ‘It would be a good idea if an effective special cell or special court is constituted where women can complain against the misbehaviour meted out to them. Such a cell is the need of the hour as we have around one third women councillors in the city,’ said Rajni Abbi.

North MCD has also witnessed an unprecedented scene in the house in a recent meeting when both BJP and Congress women councillors alleged misbehaviour by their male counterparts. The women councillors of BJP in North MCD raised the issue before LG demanding action against a Congress councillor. The Congress councillor Bhumi Rachhoia who represents Nangloi ward in North MCD also supported the demand. ‘The harassment has been a regular phenomena as male councillors don’t allow us to speak and misbehave with us even in public places,’ said Rachhoia who had registered a police complaint against Azad Singh, deputy mayor of North MCD for harassment.

Another councillor Guddi Devi who represents Malka Gunj in North MCD also supported the demand. In a recent meeting of house, Guddi Devi alleged eve-teasing by a male councillor in the House.