This Article is From Jan 25, 2014

AAP government likely to replace Delhi Commission for Women chief: sources

AAP government likely to replace Delhi Commission for Women chief: sources

File photo of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

New Delhi: The AAP government is likely to replace Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Singh, who has been accused by party members of having "politicised" the role of her office while dealing with the midnight raid episode allegedly involving Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

Sources said that in keeping with the tradition, Ms Singh, a former Congress MLA, should have resigned after her party was ousted from power in the recent Assembly elections. They added that she is likely to be replaced soon.

Following a party directive, all Congress members had relinquished their positions on the various Delhi government boards and commissions following the electoral drubbing.

Meanwhile, Mr Bharti's lawyers and Ms Singh had a public confrontation on Friday after she refused to allow them to present the minister's response in the case.

Claiming that a lawyer had misbehaved with her, Ms Singh said she has written to the Lt Governor with the recommendation that an FIR be filed against Mr Bharti in the midnight raid case.

DCW had summoned Mr Bharti over allegations that he had last week led a group of AAP workers on a raid against some African women in south Delhi after claiming they were involved in a drug and prostitution racket.

Mr Bharti had been asked to depose before the commission on Friday afternoon, but he sent his lawyers instead who explained that the law minister was absent due to "some urgencies".

AAP, in a statement, has said that it "strongly disapproves of the politicisation of the Delhi Commission for Women by its chairperson".

.