The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress over an alleged assault on its Dalit MLA Ramya Haridas by her own party workers in Chirayinkeezhu, Kerala.

Citing the incident, the BJP accused the Congress of adopting double standards on the respect and participation of women, pointing out that while the party demanded an FIR over a "purification" incident in Haldwani, it now stands surrounded by its own workers attacking a Dalit woman MLA, Jagran.com reported.

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Scuffle Erupts Between Ramya Haridas And Party Workers In Chirayinkeezhu

A scuffle broke out between Congress MLA Ramya Haridas and local party workers in Chirayinkeezhu on Friday night over a dispute regarding the participation of her staff member, Palayam Pradeep, in an official block panchayat committee meeting.

Haridas alleged that local Congress leaders threatened and attacked her, claiming one leader threatened that she would not have legs to walk back. However, local party leader Sajad claimed Haridas and her associates confronted him over a WhatsApp post, following which the scuffle broke out.

Visuals of the confrontation that surfaced online showed a physical altercation inside the residence, where Haridas could be heard shouting, "Leave my hand!"

Police have registered a case against seven Congress workers under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on Haridas's statement, along with a separate case based on Sajad's complaint. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident.

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'Congress' Feminism In Nutshell': BJP

Sharing the video on social media, Kerala BJP State General Secretary Anoop Antony Joseph said, "Congress' feminism in a nutshell. Rahul Gandhi gives grand speeches on fighting patriarchy, while his own cadre physically assaults their own woman MLA, Ramya Haridas, in broad daylight. Congress leader VD Satheesan cowardly deletes his post defending women just to appease fundamentalist clerics."

"This is exactly how women are treated in Congress; even their own elected MLAs aren't safe from their goons, and their leader doesn't have the spine to utter a single word in support of women. In Congress, women have zero value beyond empty political slogans," he added.

(With Inputs From Agencies)