Arvind Kejriwal defending use of 'racist' language by minister: CPM

CPI(M) on Tuesday castigated Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for raising the issue of Delhi Police's accountability to defend his Law Minister Somnath Bharti and AAP supporters who targeted African women and used "racist" language against them.

"The question of the police being made accountable to the elected government in Delhi has to be resolved and the central government must take it up to get this decided through Parliament," the party Politburo said here.

It said Kejriwal, while raising this issue, was defending the action of Bharti and AAP supporters "who targeted some African women in a south Delhi locality. These women's rights were violated and racist language was used against them. The minister had no business to direct such illegal activities." "It is improper of the Chief Minister to cover up this act by citing the wider problem of police accountability to an elected government," the CPI(M) said.

The major Left party said the wider question of accountability of the police in Delhi was of "vital concern to the people especially in the context of the rising number of crimes against women."