Sanitation worker’s suicide: Delhi BJP workers protest over ‘role’ of AAP’s councillor

New Delhi: Delhi BJP workers on Saturday protested outside the office of Aam Aadmi Party’s Trilokpuri municipal councillor Vijay Kumar to demand his resignation and a probe into his alleged role in the financial harassment of sanitation worker Deepak, who committed suicide, a party leader said.

The Delhi BJP workers, joined by Mahila Morcha leaders, gathered at Trilokpuri Ward Block 18 near Mother Dairy and shouted slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party councillor, the Delhi BJP said in a statement. The statement said MLA Ravikant Ujjainwal led the protest, coordinated by Municipal Councillor Priyanka Gautam.

The victim’s wife, Sangeeta, was also present at the protest venue with the hope that AAP leaders - Arvind Kejriwal, Saurabh Bharadwaj or Kuldeep Kumar - would take action against councillor Vijay Kumar, the statement said.

It is unfortunate that the AAP is an anti-Dalit party and has taken no action against Vijay Kumar so far, it said. The protesters demanded an impartial investigation into sanitation worker Deepak’s case, justice for his family and strict legal action if allegations of financial harassment and abetment to suicide are proved.

According to a Delhi BJP statement, a heated argument and clash broke out between protesters and staff at the councillor’s office during slogan-shouting. Former Deputy Mayor Rajkumar Dhillon, former MLA Rohit Mehraulia, Trilokpuri Mandal President Sunil, residents and BJP workers participated. Municipal Councillor and advocate Priyanka Gautam said, “No form of injustice against sanitation workers can be tolerated,” and called for an impartial probe into the allegations.

Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra alleged that Deepak had sought help from Vijay Kumar to build a house. About a year ago, Kumar allegedly arranged a Rs 15 lakh loan, which was transferred to his own account, and took possession of Deepak’s signed cheque book. The BJP alleged that the cheques were used to withdraw Deepak’s salary for 9–10 months.

Malhotra further alleged that when Deepak sought either a house or his money back, Kumar threatened to have him transferred and demanded a 25% commission (Rs 25,000 per lakh).

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