New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) The Congress on Monday filed police complaints in Delhi and across India seeking action over obscene and offensive posts in social media targeting party's Uttar Pradesh General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and also pointed to some BJP leaders making "sexist remarks" against her.
The party has blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for triggering the campaign and also written to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik alleging that "opposing forces have unleashed a campaign to diminish Priyanka Gandhi's credibility".
In the complaint filed by the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) at the Sansad Marg Police Station here, the party alleged that offensive and obscene posts were being circulated in social media in pursuance of a conspiracy.
"Distasteful and offensive tweets, posts and pictures are doing the rounds of social media. This is exactly the kind of misogyny that acts as a deterrent for women to enter politics. To objectify women and humiliate them is shameful," AIMC chief Sushmita Dev said after filing the complaint.
"Since her appointment, opposing forces and other fringe groups have been attempting to discredit her, and have been pursuing a co-ordinated smearing campaign by using distasteful, offensive and repulsive tweets/ pictures of her," the party said in the police complaint and the letter to Patnaik.
"Some leaders of the BJP also passed sexist remarks about her," the party said pointing to Bihar Minister and BJP leader Vinod Narayan Jha's remarks that "Priyanka Gandhi is just a pretty face with no political achievement".
In the complaint, the party has given details of offensive tweets and the handles posting them and sought action for various offences including outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment and obscenity.
"A perusal of these tweets/ pictures will disclose that the same are being deliberately circulated to diminish the credibility of Priyanka Gandhi with a mala fide intent to insult her modesty," it said.
Similar complaints have also been filed by the party in all state capitals seeking action.
"In this age of cyber policing and much advertised curbs on offensive material online, it is surprising that the perpetrators are publishing such offensive posts without any fear of the law and without considering the far-reaching consequences of such acts on society," said Dev.
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