Published 12:58 IST, September 20th 2019
Delhi BJP neta caught on camera slapping wife; removed from party post
In an embarrassment to the BJP, its Mehrauli district chief Azad Singh on Thursday allegedly assaulted his wife Sarita Chaudhary, former South Delhi mayor
In an embarrassment to the BJP, its Mehrauli district chief Azad Singh on Thursday allegedly assaulted his wife Sarita Chaudhary, former South Delhi mayor, at the party's Delhi office. The incident took place right after a poll-preparedness meeting with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting senior leader and Prakash Javadekar, sources said. After the incident party leaders informed that the two have been involved in a marital discord and Singh has filed for divorce from his wife. Taking a strict action against the leader, the BJP removed the leader from the post and constituted a committee to probe the incident. The decision was taken by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari informed party general secretary Rajesh Bhatia.
What was the incident?
Informing about the incident a senior BJP leader said that the fight broke out as soon as they came out of the meeting called by Javadekar, who is in-charge of Delhi BJP for Assembly polls, at the party office on Pant Marg. "The duo are involved in a marital discord for many years. It was, however, not expected that they will fight like this openly. Singh has a dispute with his wife and former South Delhi mayor Sarita Chaudhary. He indulged in a fight with her. Javadekar was present in the party office at the time of the incident," said a Delhi BJP leader, who witnessed the incident.
While Chaudhary was not available for immediate reaction, Singh said he has filed for a divorce from her wife. "She first abused me and attacked me so I pushed her in self-defence," Singh said. When she was called for her version, a person who picked Chaudhary 's phone claimed that she was visiting a doctor. Responding on the incident, Delhi Police officer said, "We have not received any complaint from anyone involved in the said incident. Appropriate action will be taken if a complaint is given to us." A video clip of the incident has been circulated on social media.
Prompt action by the BJP
In an order issued on behalf of Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, Singh was removed from the post of Mehrauli unit president with immediate effect. Another leader, Vikas Tanwar, was appointed as the working president of the district. Javadekar and his co-incharges -- Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Nityanand Rai -- have been taking meetings of office-bearers of the party's 14 district units in run-up to the Assembly polls scheduled early next year. Delhi will be going to polls next year in 2020.
Updated 14:19 IST, September 20th 2019