Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses his supporters during a protest in New Delhi. (File pic)
New Delhi:
A protest by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) drew attention for the wrong reason today when it was revealed that one could "buy tickets" to the dharna online at Rs 50 apiece.
A prominent website that sells tickets and passes for theatre, shows and film screenings, appeared to offer tickets for the event called "AAP Dharna for Justice of Ugandan Women" at the "venue" Jantar Mantar in Connaught Place. A link to the Aam Aadmi Party website went to an error page.
Rattled by the response on social media, ranging from amused to baffled, AAP denied any connection to the ticket sale and asked for it to be removed from the site. It also appealed to its supporters not to fall for it.
The party is protesting in support of Ugandan women who have alleged that they were forced into a drug and sex racket, which the party says vindicates Law Minister Somnath Bharti's controversial raid that led to Ugandan women complaining to the police about harassment and racism. (read)
Mr Bharti claimed that three Ugandan women had approached him for help saying that they were victims of the alleged sex and drug racket. "Had the police been honest in their work, then it could have saved these three girls from being violated," he said.
The 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 them as the "drug mafia," who took away their passports and other papers. An FIR has been registered against unknown people.
The AAP government has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide protection to the three women, who are at a nari niketan or shelter.
Delhi 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 can now see for themselves what is happening there."
A prominent website that sells tickets and passes for theatre, shows and film screenings, appeared to offer tickets for the event called "AAP Dharna for Justice of Ugandan Women" at the "venue" Jantar Mantar in Connaught Place. A link to the Aam Aadmi Party website went to an error page.
Rattled by the response on social media, ranging from amused to baffled, AAP denied any connection to the ticket sale and asked for it to be removed from the site. It also appealed to its supporters not to fall for it.
The party is protesting in support of Ugandan women who have alleged that they were forced into a drug and sex racket, which the party says vindicates Law Minister Somnath Bharti's controversial raid that led to Ugandan women complaining to the police about harassment and racism. (read)
Mr Bharti claimed that three Ugandan women had approached him for help saying that they were victims of the alleged sex and drug racket. "Had the police been honest in their work, then it could have saved these three girls from being violated," he said.
The 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 them as the "drug mafia," who took away their passports and other papers. An FIR has been registered against unknown people.
The AAP government has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide protection to the three women, who are at a nari niketan or shelter.
Delhi 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 can now see for themselves what is happening there."
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