Launching a defence of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti in the case related to the midnight raid at Khirki Extension, Aam Aadmi Party said that although one of the victims had identified the former as being allegedly the one who had led the assaulters, a judicial probe still has to determine what the group had actually done.
"It's important to understand the context of the statement. The victim says she has identified Bharti, but what the group (of which Bharti was allegedly a part) has done has not been established yet.”
"The judiciary is investigating the case to ascertain the facts and we will abide by what it says," AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey told reporters.
The woman, who has recorded her statement before a magistrate, said she recognises Bharti as being the one who led the group which had barged into her house and attacked them.
"We were attacked on Wednesday night by Indians who were led by Bharti... We were harassed, beaten; they had sticks. They said we should leave their country or else they would kill us one by one," the Ugandan national said.
Asked whether Bharti would resign till the probe was completed, given that the party had made a similar demand in respect of the Delhi Police officials it has accused of being negligent in their duty, Pandey said the question of that did not arise.
"As a law minister, he is not in a position to influence the probe; neither has he any control over the judiciary. The SHOs are in a position to manipulate the evidence, which is why we had sought their suspension or transfer," he stated.
The party said that it will reach out to the Ugandan woman, but refused to elaborate on how it was planning to do so. It is to be noted that AAP has established a Women's Redressal Cell under the Visakha guidelines.
When asked whether Bharti had been asked to be careful while talking to the media, senior party leader and Political Affairs Committee member Gopal Rai said, "Everyone has been advised to be careful and humble (while talking to the media) and that also includes Bharti."
