Congress Badaun nominee quits over ‘obscene remarks’

By Tanvi Ladha

BAREILLY: In a development for the Congress in Badaun, its nominee from Sheikhpura constituency, Farha Naeem, has refused to contest elections alleging that the party’s district president “makes obscene remarks against her as a woman and against her community”.

Naeem also quit the Congress saying she “doesn’t feel safe in the party because of people like him”. District president Omkar Singh refuted the allegations and said “someone is using her to defame the Congress”.

At a press conference in Badaun city on Friday, a teary-eyed Naeem announced her resignation from the Congress and said she was thankful to the Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for fielding her from the seat. She claimed Singh makes obscene remarks quite often and had even raised questions about her character.

Naeem said, “I got strength from Priyanka Gandhi, but Omkar Singh called me a ‘Muslim woman’ and used all tactics to throw me out of Badaun district. I can’t contest the elections as I don’t feel safe as a woman under the leadership of Singh. I have quit Congress to send a message to Priyanka Gandhi about the situation in Badaun”.

Singh added, “What is happening is disheartening. I am a senior citizen, and if there is any truth in her allegations, she should produce evidence. Two other women have also got party tickets, and I have inaugurated their offices. I never opposed it when the party sought my opinion on giving the poll ticket to Naeem. It seems she was asked to do all these by someone who wants to defame the Congress party”.