Madhu Bhaduri says AAP doesn't consider women as human beings, quits

New Delhi: Former diplomat and Aam Aadmi Party's founding member Madhu Bhaduri on Sunday "distanced" herself from the party alleging that she was heckled at a meeting for introducing a resolution condemning Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti's role in a midnight raid, even as the outfit rubbished the charges.

"I have distance myself from the party. I am not with the party anymore," Bhaduri said in a response to a question whether she has quit AAP.

"There is no question of quitting because I don't hold any post in the party. I am neither a national executive member nor a political affairs committee member," she added.

Bhaduri, a member of the party panel to chalk out its foreign policy, had alleged that she was heckled at Friday's National Council meeting when she tried to pass a resolution condemning Bharti's midnight raid in the Khirki extension.

"I had given a formal request to the party on January 23 for a resolution. Navy Chief Admiral (retd) Ramdas was also aware of it. On the day of the meeting, when the session was going on, I again went to Ramdas, who was speaking at that time and told him that I also wanted to speak. I had hardly started speaking and introduced a resolution when I was heckled," Bhaduri claimed.

"I'm not angry, but disappointed and disillusioned with the party. I am not concerned with whether Bharti would be removed or not, my only concern is humanity and that women are also human being... This party does not considered them as human beings," she said.

AAP has, however, rubbished the allegations that she was heckled.

Elaborating on the day's event, AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey said, "Members were asked to ventilate their grievances, give suggestions for improvement of the party and Madhuji also tried to put forth a point. She was even asked to come to podium and talk.

"But she was saying something which the party did not agree to and it was also not a part of the agenda of the National Council meeting. Therefore, she was asked to stop as others were waiting for their turn to speak," he said.

Claiming that Bhaduri was present even after the incident, Pandey asked, "Had she been heckled, do you think she should have waited all through the meeting?"

Asked about the issue, senior party leader Ashutosh said, "She was the only member of the National Council who was called on the stage to put forth her views. She tried to put her views also. It is not always necessary that an individual's views are in the line with the party.

"She was a founder member of the party. Our sympathies are with her. Moreover, AAP respects women the most and they are an important part of the organisation. I believe she should not have acted in haste," he added.