File photo of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti
Delhi's controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti, accused last month of harassing some African women during a midnight raid to bust what he alleged was a sex and drug racket in south Delhi, has now been approached by three Ugandan women for help.
The three women arrived in India on January 17 and have said in a police complaint that they were lured to Delhi with the promise of jobs, but were held "hostage" by people who tried to force them into prostitution. They have reportedly described their alleged tormentors as the "drug mafia," who took away their passports and other papers. An FIR has been registered against unknown people.
The Aam Aadmi Party has said their allegation about a thriving "drug and sex racket" in south Delhi has been proven right. They will hold a protest on the issue in the capital on Wednesday which will be led by party leader Sanjay Singh.
The AAP government has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide protection to the three women, who are at a
nari niketan or home for women. They will depose before a metropolitan magistrate at the Saket court in Delhi, with an official from the Ugandan embassy present.
Mr Bharti, who has been accused of "vigilantism" and "racism" during his attempted raid in the capital's Khirki Extension area in January, claimed that the three Ugandan women had approached him for help saying that they were victims of the alleged sex and drug racket in the south Delhi area. "Had the police been honest in their work, then it could have saved these three girls from being violated," he said.
Education and Urban Development Minister Manish Sisodia said, "The women didn't trust the police or the Ugandan Commission, but approached our law minister Somnath Bharti for help... those people who were trying to project him as a villain over the midnight raid incident can now see for themselves what is happening there."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has rejected all demands for Mr Bharti's resignation. He had a 33-hour protest last month against the city's police for not acting on the minister's request for action against the alleged drug and prostitution ring.