A video of a woman being touched inappropriately on stage, with Congress’ Deepender Hooda and other leaders present, has teed up fresh trouble for the Congress.

The BJP, sharing the undated video, was quick to use the incident to allege that the rival party’s “Ladki hoon lad sakti hoon slogan” is just rhetoric. The trouble compounded for the Congress when Kumari Selja, its prominent Dalit face and a Chief Minister hopeful, said the woman told her that “someone misbehaved with her”.

A hand appears from behind and reaches for the woman standing next to Deepinder Hooda, shows the video. A Congress member quickly pushes the hand away. The short clip is being played on loop in the video shared by the BJP. 

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also stressed that if a complaint was filed, they would take action.

“They don’t respect anyone including women, the poor, and Dalits. This is in their culture and DNA. If we get an application in this regard, then we will take action. Our government will take strict action and not spare anyone. Women are an integral part of the society,” he said.

The incident comes as voting ends in Haryana. The BJP is looking to secure a hat-trick, while the Congress hopes to make a comeback in the state.

Kumari Selja, who spoke to the woman, condemned the incident, adding that action should be taken against those involved.

“I spoke to her, she told me that some people were touching her and trying to remove her from the stage. We saw the same in the video as well and when I confirmed this with her, she told me that someone misbehaved with her. If something like this happens to a woman today, it is highly condemnable. Action should be taken on this,” said Ms Selja.

#WATCH | Hisar, Haryana: On an alleged molestation attempt with a Congress worker on stage at a Congress rally, Congress MP Kumari Selja says “I spoke to her, she told me that some people were touching her and trying to remove her from the stage. We saw the same in the video as… pic.twitter.com/fahDEoDVQ1

— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2024

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also posted on X and termed the incident as “most shocking.”

“A woman congress leader was molested on stage in the presence of Deepender Hooda by congress leaders. Confirmed by news reports and even Kumari Selja. If women are not safe in Congress meetings in full public view during the daytime – can they be safe if Congress comes to power?” said Mr Poonawalla.

The ten years of BJP governance in Haryana has left the state nowhere and the people now are eager for a change, Congress’ Deepender Hooda told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. Mr Hooda, who is on a footmarch across the state, today reached the 49th constituency. He said his yatra has only made it clear that the state is ready for change.

“Ten years of misgovernance on part of the BJP has left Haryana nowhere. Haryana today ranks number one in terms of unemployment, in terms of inflation, number one in drug use, and number one in the whole nation as far as crime is concerned,” Mr Hooda told NDTV.
The crime rate, he said, was “from the data of the Central government”.

The senior Congress leader also alleged a trust deficit between the BJP’s central and state leaders, given the state government was caught unprepared for the Election Commission announcement of poll dates that came two days ago.

Asked about the massive transfers of officials shortly after the Election Commission’s announcement and the immediate imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, Mr Hooda said, “This just shows desperation on part of the BJP”.

“In fact, this also shows that the state government was not consulted by either (Centre and the Election Commission). They did not know the Election Commission was going to take this step. So somehow there is lack of confidence between the state government and the Central government and the Election Commission,” he said, pointing out that  in the morning, the Chief Minister was saying there was absolutely no chance that elections are going to be held in time.

“They were preparing for a Cabinet meeting. In fact, some of the announcements they made have not been notified to the Election Commission,” he added.

On Friday, the Haryana government had issued transfer orders for 21 IAS, 12 IPS and 68 state civil and police services officers with immediate effect.

While official sources said the transfer orders were issued before the election schedule was announced, Opposition parties targeted the state’s BJP government, alleging that it has openly flouted the poll code.