Journalists come out in support of AAP's Ashutosh after NCW notice
The National Commission for Women had issued a letter directing Ashutosh to appear before it in relation to a column written by him for NDTV
Following protests by Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, the National Commission for Women reacted to the column penned by Aam Aadmi Party’s Ashutosh. NCW expressed anguish over the AAP leader supposedly giving a clean chit to rape accused Sandeep Kumar.
“The Commission is therefore, extremely upset with such irresponsible, misogynist and disparaging views by persons holding responsible positions,” NCW said in a letter signed by Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam.
The commission also directed Ashutosh to appear before it on September 8. Ashutosh, formerly with IBN7, hit back at NCW accusing the commission of stifling freedom of speech and expression. “Should I be hanged for writing a column,” he asked. He also hinted at Lalitha Kumaramangalam’s association with the BJP as a national executive member.
Recd notice fm NCW.Is any freedom of expression?Is india turning into a fascist state? pic.twitter.com/WBVkBk5EL5
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 5, 2016
Ms Mangalam as a chairperson of NCW, you should not lie on a national TV that u r not BJP member.Wikipedia writes You are still a member.
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 5, 2016
Meanwhile, numerous journalists came out in support of Ashutosh on Twitter. These included renowned names like Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, Shekhar Gupta and QW Naqvi.
This is madness, utterly stupid trivialization of women's issues. More evidence why these commissions should be shut https://t.co/KAtIZmaES1
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) September 5, 2016
Kind of idiotic to make @ashutosh83B legally answerable for a column which he wrote when there was no rape complaint known.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 6, 2016
Completely agree with u. https://t.co/htPacRkXmi
— Qamar Waheed Naqvi (@qwnaqvi) September 6, 2016
In a series of tweets, Ashutosh maintained that he wasn’t afraid of the FIR registered against him and was willing to fight it out. He called for a debate on the right to freely express viewpoints in relation to history.
Registration of police cases and NCW can't scare me !! I am born in free India, I am a proud indian !! Constitution is my religion !!
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 6, 2016
Let there be debate in the country - should I have a right to express myself freely or not as mandated by the Babasheb's constitution ?
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 6, 2016
