BJYM leader accused of molestation,refutes charges,quits post

Mumbai, Mar 26: Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's (BJYM) Mumbai unit president, Ganesh Pandey has resigned from the post after a woman member accused him of molestation, a charge refuted by him.

The woman, a member of BJP's youth wing here, complained to the party's city unit chief Ashish Shelar that Pandey had allegedly molested her by asking her obscene questions and passing lewd remarks.

The victim, in a written complaint to Shelar on March 22, alleged that Pandey, who accompanied her during BJYM's 3-day executive committee meeting in Mathura, called her to his hotel room on March 4 and asked her obscene questions, passed lewd remarks in front of other male members and also held her hand when she tried to leave the place.

Although the woman has not approached the police yet, Pandey tendered his resignation yesterday. He described these allegations as part of a "political conspiracy" and asked why it took 18 days for the woman to file a complaint. "This is a classic case of political conspiracy hatched against me.

There are few people in the party, who are behind this. I have full faith in my senior leadership and this is why while submitting my resignation, I have demanded a fair inquiry into the matter and punish the culprit whosoever may be."

"I was really appalled when I got to know about the complaint. I could not believe initially because after returning from the meeting, she was in touch with me constantly and praised everyone, including me. "Had anything unwelcoming happened to her, she would have immediately brought this to the notice of senior party leaders, as she had the contact numbers of all the leaders," Pandey said.

When contacted, Shelar said, "Action has been taken against Pandey and he has resigned." Asked whether BJP will conduct an inquiry into the allegations levelled by the victim or whether she has been asked to approach the police to lodge a complaint, Shelar said, "Further steps will be decided as per instructions of the senior party leaders."

PTI