Barkha Shukla Singh, who is set to exit as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women in July this year, has been served a show cause notice by the Delhi government over the manner in which she acted in a case against Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas.
Earlier this month, the DCW chief had issued summons to Vishwas after an AAP volunteer accused him of not rebutting ‘rumours’ about an illicit liaison with her and ruining her reputation.
In no mood to be pushed around, Singh says, “Having acted within my jurisdiction I have summarily replied to the AAP government’s show cause notice. I am shocked at the manner in which I have been personally attacked because of this case.”
In an exclusive chat with Upasna Pandey/ Rediff.com, Barkha Singh dismissed the charges that the DCW's summons to Vishwas was part of a conspiracy to defame the AAP government.
What is your response to the show cause notice sent by the Delhi government which claims you have acted outside the purview of your power as DCW chief in the Kumar Vishwas case?
I have replied to the show cause notice; the woman is a resident of Delhi’s Sunder Nagri area. The Supreme Court has directed that any woman’s complaint can be taken up in the area where she resides, anywhere in the country. We tried, for around 20 days before this case was finally taken up officially, to resolve the issues between her and Kumar Vishwas. I tried reaching Kumar multiple times. All he needed to do was to show up and clarify that there was no truth in the allegations of a 'relationship' with the woman, so that her marital life is not adversely affected. She is currently separated from her husband. He could have done this on humanitarian grounds.
There are allegations that you ran a media trial on Kumar Vishwas even as the probe is still on.
Kumar Vishwas is not an ordinary person, he is a celebrity. We did not inform the media and are unaware as to how the media got wind of this information. We cannot simply shun the media away like the AAP government.
You have complained to the Delhi lieutenant general of malicious threats and tweets against you by supporters of Kumar Vishwas.
I am sickened and shocked by the kind of tweets and messages that were posted against me. I registered a complaint at the local police station, to the LG, as well as the Union home minister. I am disturbed and don’t feel safe anymore. The government talks about being pro-women but they are picking up confrontations with women representatives. There are no women in the Delhi government and it shows how much the government is concerned about women’s issues.
Most of the programmes such as Ladli, widow's pension and maintenance dole for women who have been deserted by their spouses, among others, which benefited girl child and women in the city, have been discontinued by the AAP government.
How do you see the allegations against acting chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin?
She is also being targeted by the Delhi government, there are accusations that she favoured some power companies, but the government should also explain the alleged role of then power secretary Rajendra Kumar, who is now secretary to the CM, in favouring power companies.
Do you anticipate being removed as DCW chairperson by the Delhi government?
All the work done by me, all the respect earned over the years has been tarnished by the recent malicious campaign against me. I have confidence in the legal systems and am not going to shy away from a confrontation. I intend to serve my full term till July 19 with complete dignity. I have replied to the government’s show cause notice. If required, I shall take the fight to the roads.
DCW member Juhi Khan has accused you of creating a political conspiracy against Kumar Vishwas.
The DCW member (Khan) has no stake in this case. I and Kumar are at least from the same fraternity (we are both poets). It is not as if I have any personal enmity with him. She has made baseless allegations against me. I think she expects to be rewarded for her support to Vishwas. She may even become DCW chairperson. She was not regular with her work at the DCW so I don’t know why she has jumped into this case suddenly.
What are your future plans? Will you get active as a Congress party politician again?
I have won MLA elections, but social work is where my heart lies. I would continue to work for ordinary people and women in distress, from my home, and there are also public spaces where we can express ourselves. Politics as such is not so critical for me, social work is what drives me. But I will not stop until the complaints lodged by me are probed and I am willing to take my protest to the roads of Delhi too.
As you prepare to move out in July, what is your expectation or message for the Delhi government?
I had hoped to go a long way with the Kejriwal government but it didn’t work out. It started with the former law minister Somnath Bharti’s case when he entered the home of a foreign national. I was accused of pulling up the minister. There is need for the DCW to have teeth, to have more powers. The National Commission for Women is likely to get more powers, which is a welcome move.
The Delhi government needs to keep its promises to the women of the city. The outcome of my predicament will also set a precedent for the women in Delhi to see how the government handles the representatives of women.
