‘Assaulted’ in Gujarat, Congress MP weeps in Delhi

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rose in angry uproar over a woman tribal MP being dragged and harassed by the Gujarat police.

The 57-year old MP Prabha Kishor Taviad and two MLAs were detained in Dahod town on Tuesday, as chief minister Narindra Modi descended there for celebration of the state’s foundation day. He also showered schemes of Rs903 crores on the tribal-dominated district.

The MP, who is also a practising doctor, broke down while mentioning how she was allegedly manhandled by state police. Congress MP Girija Vyas narrated the humiliation on Taviad’s behalf. The police, Vyas claimed, detained Taviad as soon as she stepped out of her house despite showing her invitation card for the function, dragged her by hair into a jeep and left her at a far-away town of Halol and did not provide medical treatment despite repeated requests.

Vyas said the shocking incident only re-affirms the attitude of the BJP government that did not shy away from tearing open pregnant women’s tummies instead of protecting the women.

Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj also intervened and said she would speak to the chief minister and get back to the House on the incident.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said this was violation of the fundamental rights of the MP and asked the House to seek an explanation from Modi.  Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said the police would misbehave with a lady MP unless under orders.