Priyanka Questions Delhi Police Handling of Sexual Harassment Allegations by Women Journalists

New Delhi, Oct 4 : Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has questioned the alleged handling by Delhi Police of sexual harassment complaints lodged by women journalists covering a protest at Jantar Mantar, asking why no FIR had been registered or concrete action taken despite protests by several journalists.

In a post on social media platform X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said women journalists had alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while reporting from Jantar Mantar. She claimed that despite dozens of journalists protesting over the allegations, neither an FIR had been registered nor any substantive action taken.

“Jantar Mantar par reporting ke dauran mahila patrakaron ne policekarmiyon par yaun utpeedan ka aarop lagaya hai. Darjanon patrakaron ke pradarshan ke bawajood na FIR darj ki gayi, na hi koi thos karvai hui,” she said.

She also alleged that women participating in a peaceful protest were being treated improperly by the police.

“The women who are peacefully protesting are also alleging that the police are behaving with them in a very indecent manner,” she said, questioning the conduct of a force whose primary responsibility is to ensure security.

“The police whose job is to provide security are themselves making women feel unsafe,” Priyanka said.

Broadening her criticism to the larger issue of women's safety, she said women were experiencing a sense of insecurity in different settings, ranging from college campuses to workplaces and journalism.

Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she asked whether such treatment of women was appropriate and, if not, why the government was not taking cognisance of the allegations.

Her remarks come amid continuing concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society groups over the safety and treatment of women during protests and public demonstrations in the national capital.

Jantar Mantar, a designated site for demonstrations in Delhi, has frequently been the venue for protests involving journalists, students, political parties and civil society organisations.

The allegations by the women journalists are likely to bring renewed focus on the conduct of security personnel during protests and the procedures followed by police when complaints of sexual harassment are made against members of the force.