An IT cell member of the Congress has spoken about her ordeals to Mynation.com. The Congress IT cell member whose name has been changed to hide her identity has revealed shocking details about the work culture of the IT cell. The interview was conducted after a complaint had been filed by former female employee against Chirag Patnaik. Chirag Patnaik, a member of the Congress IT cell, had been accused of making sexual advances and demanding sexual favours from his female colleague. An FIR has been registered under section 354A and 509 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. These are very serious charges under the Penal Code. While section 354A deals with sexual advances, sexually coloured remarks, demanding sexual favours, etc., section 509 of the code deals with words, gestures and acts intended to assault the modesty of a woman. The woman had accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of not taking any action against the accused even after she complained in written to him prior to approaching the police. She even blamed the IT cell head, Divya Spandana, for not coming to her rescue after being informed of the highly inappropriate conduct of Chirag Patnaik towards her.
In the interview, the lady opened about how she had been subjected to humiliation on a daily basis by Chirag Patnaik. She said, “I have never seen someone staring at me the way Chirag did. It made me so uncomfortable. He invaded my personal space. Even when I was having my food he would point his shoes at me”. She went on about how her mail to Rahul Gandhi didn’t even get acknowledged and then continued discussing how the Congress’ social media department had made a mockery of the sexual harassment inquiry committee set up to look into her complaints. She said, “I wish I could laugh at it. Two people on this committee already signed in favour of Chirag Patnaik, exonerating him of all wrongdoing. They supported the accused instead of standing up for the victim. Or the least I expected was that they had maintained a neutral position.”
Blaming Divya Spandana, she said that the committee as well as Divya Spandana could not be trusted to make good the faults committed by her colleagues. The said lady also accused Congress IT cell head Divya Spandana of “mental and professional” harassment for taking no action against Chirag Patnaik once the issue had been brought to her notice.
This incident coupled with the various such incidents in the past proves how the Congress machinery functions and what to expect from them once they come to power. An organisation which promises safety and security for the whole of India went limp before protecting one of their own female employees. This speaks volumes about how the apparently pro-women Congress IT cell head Divya Spandana and Congress President Rahul Gandhi are in real life. All the façade which they use to raise questions about the working style of the BJP government is nothing more than a shield for their own misdoings.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of this incident, and being a woman, Divya Spandana should be even more sorry for their conduct in this regard. The boat of the IT cell of the Congress seems to be sinking just like that of the party, and they have nobody but themselves to blame for it.