BJP targets CM at Women’s Day meet

The Delhi government's International Women's Day celebrations at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium went awry on Friday after the BJP's women's wing organised protests outside the venue.

While the demonstrators chanted slogans and burnt posters of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor was heckled by the BJP activists when he arrived there in his car.

Tharoor managed to enter the venue after police intervention and was seen with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit during the programme.

While the BJP continued to protest outside the stadium demanding that Dikshit listen to their grievances, the stadium doors were locked after all guests arrived.

Earlier in the day Tharoor had tweeted, "With Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Sunanda at the International Women's Day celebration. Terrific spirit inside, BJP mob out."

"BJP demonstrators were protesting against policies of the existing government. When Tharoor's car reached Talkatora, he was heckled by protesters who shouted anti-Congress slogans and prevented him from entering the auditorium. However, no damage to property was reported and Tharoor was unhurt. We have not received a complaint from him or anybody else in this regard," ACP (New Delhi) S B S Tyagi told Newsline.

Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said the protest was organised after the BJP accessed documents that showed Dikshit had recommended a one month parole to two persons convicted of rape.

"Despite police advice against parole, Dikshit went ahead and recommended parole for the two convicts. But Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna rejected parole for both convicts," Goel said. He said the BJP's Mahila morcha had organised the protest outside Talkatora Stadium.

Slamming Dikshit for recommending parole, Goel said: "The CM says she wants a safe city for women and blames police for all mishaps and, on the other hand, she goes against the recommendations of police and wants parole for convicts of such heinous crimes."

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