New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today justified a heavily criticised midnight raid by his Law Minister Somnath Bharti targeting African nationals, citing a June letter purportedly from the Ugandan High Commission speaking of women from that country being trafficked to India.
"A woman from the Ugandan mission came to meet Somnath Bharti last evening and told him 'you did very well, many women from our country are being trafficked'. She brought a letter," Mr Kejriwal said waving the letter as he justified a sit-in protest demanding action against Delhi Police officers for not cooperating with Mr Bharti.
Law Minister Somnath Bharti said the June 19 letter proved he was right to carry out his raid on Wednesday night based on complaints of a sex and drug trafficking ring at Khirki Extension in his constituency in south Delhi. The AAP said the fact that the letter dates back to June shows it is not an isolated problem.
Annexed to the letter from the Defence Advisor of the Ugandan High Commission, is the reported account of a woman who was duped into coming to India on 30 May, by alleged sex traffickers in Delhi and Ugandan capital Kampala (
read letter).
"The girl had hoped to be offered a job as she was promised by the coordinator...only to be introduced into sex working (sic)" said the letter. "The purpose of this communication is to draw your attention and possibly interrogate the lady."
The Centre questioned the credibility of the letter. "Uganda's High Commission staff currently not in New Delhi. Please do not give credence to rumours," said foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
The AAP, however, said they could identify the woman who came to them.
The Delhi Police yesterday registered an FIR or First Information Report on the raid, without naming anyone, following a complaint by Ugandan woman who alleged that a group of people from a political party broke into her house, threatened and molested her.
Two of the women have alleged that the crowd forced them to urinate in full public view for samples to be tested for drugs, according to senior lawyer Harish Salve. Mr Bharti has also been accused of using a racial slur.