Ugly scenes were witnessed in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, at a meeting of Congress leaders ahead of the by-election to Deoria Assembly constituency, with a woman party worker being roughed up by her colleagues after she alleged that the ticket has been given to a "rapist".
The woman, Tara Yadav, also lodged a police complaint against four office-bearers of the party, including the district president, for allegedly beating her and molesting her.
UP Congress has set up a committee to inquire about the incident, ANI reported. The committee is expected to submit its report within 3 days. Meanwhile, two workers have been suspended from the party.
According to eyewitnesses, Yadav allegedly tried to "manhandle" party secretary Sachin Naik, and also hurled a bouquet towards him during the meeting on Saturday.
Yadav was protesting over the party nominating Mukund Bhaskar Mani for the November by-polls, accusing him of being a rapist, a charge denied by him.
As she hurled a bouquet towards Sachin Naik, angry workers allegedly beat up Tara Yadav and took her out of the meeting venue, the eyewitnesses claimed.
The videos of the incident went viral on social media.
UP Congress sets up a committe to inquire about the incident where Congress' Tara Yadav was manhandled by party workers at an event in Deoria. The committe will submit its report within 3 days. Two workers suspended from the party. https://t.co/rbcHHwfOMO
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 11, 2020
"A police complaint has been received. The matter is being probed. However, no case has been registered so far," SHO Kotwali Chandrabhan Singh said.
Yadav, who claimed to be associated with the party for four years, said she was only questioning the choice of candidate and never expected that the party members would react in such a manner.
"You have given the ticket to a rapist, and this has tarnished the image of Congress. You could have given the ticket to someone else. As I said this, I was pushed by someone from behind. Can I not even put up my point of view? These people want to destroy the Congress and end it," Yadav said.
