NEW DELHI: An alleged case of molestation of a Ghaziabad-based women by the supervisor of a private sanitation company at the Delhi Secretariat in Players' Building on Monday evening rocked the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday with the opposition BJP members accusing Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit of trying to cover up the issue, leading to their expulsion from the House for the third consecutive day.

Soon after Question Hour, the BJP members led by the Leader of the Opposition, Jagdish Mukhi, were on their feet alleging that molestation had taken place in the Chief Minister's Office on the third floor and attempts were being made to brush the whole issue under the carpet. Mr. Mukhi and Dr. Harsh Vardhan said the matter was very serious as it pertained to the CMO and therefore the Government should come clear on the issue. Their other colleagues alleged that it was shameful that such an incident had taken place inside the CMO that is headed by a woman.

Stating that the incident reflected the state of affairs and the sharp increase in crime against women, the BJP leaders said women in the Capital were unsafe under the present regime. Mr. Mukhi said the Government had failed to take the House into confidence on the issue and it should have made a statement when the proceedings began.

Mr. Mukhi said the employee who had allegedly tried to rape the woman worked in the office of the Chief Minister.

Responding to the pleas of the Opposition, Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh said he was seized of the matter and urged the members to resume their seats.

However, the BJP members were in no mood to listen and insisted that the Government come clear on the issue.

They shouted slogans against the Government and said the law and order had completely broken down. At this the Speaker warned that if they did not resume their seats, he would name them. But this had little impact on the BJP members who continued to create a ruckus. Sensing that the situation was getting out of hand, Mr. Singh named all the BJP members and expelled them from the House for the third consecutive day.

Later, making a statement in the House, the Chief Minister informed that one sanitation employee, Ramvir Negi, working as a supervisor on the third floor, had tried to molest a woman who had come seeking employment. Categorically stating that no rape had taken place, Ms. Dikshit said it was an attempt at molestation and the accused had since been arrested. The Chief Minister added that an FIR under Sections 354 and 309 had been lodged with the Indraprastha police station and investigations were in progress.

Meanwhile, the Government had constituted a one-member inquiry panel headed by Arvind Kale, an official of the Home Department, to look into the whole issue and submit a report.

However, speaking to newsmen in the Assembly premises, the victim alleged that she was being pressurized by the police not to pursue the complaint and enter a compromise to end the matter. She accused the police of not cooperating with her and not taking her version seriously and instead helping the accused in watering down the whole issue.

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