Delhi L-G Accused of Leading Assault on Activist Medha Patkar

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released a video allegedly showing Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena led a violent mob that attacked social activist Medha Patkar at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat in 2002. The AAP is urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Saxena from his post, citing the video as conclusive evidence in the 21-year-old assault case.

During a press conference, AAP leader Sanjay Singh criticized Modi for appointing Saxena as Delhi L-G and said that he should feel ashamed of his actions. Singh called on Modi to remove Saxena from his post and allow him to face the court process.

Saxena and three others, including Gujarat BJP MLA Amit P Shah, were booked for rioting, assault, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult in connection with the assault on Patkar. Saxena recently approached a court in Gujarat with a request to keep the criminal trial against him in abeyance citing immunity granted to a Lieutenant Governor under Article 361 (1) of the Constitution.

However, Patkar has opposed Saxena’s plea, arguing that his post is not equivalent to that of a Governor. In her reply to L-G’s plea, Patkar insisted that immunity provided under Article 361 of the Constitution to certain top functionaries is not available to the Lieutenant Governor.

Saxena founded the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), a non-profit NGO with its headquarters in Ahmedabad, in 1991. The NCCL opposed Patkar and her Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in their attempts to stop the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat.

This controversy highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions, particularly when it comes to violence against women. The AAP’s call for Saxena’s removal from his post sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated, and women’s rights must be
protected.

Staff Reporter