Two incidents of racially-targeted vigilante incidents have come to light in the India's capital city of New Delhi. In one of the incidents, the vigilantes were allegedly led by the Law Minister of Delhi Somnath Bharti and members of Aam Aadmi Party,which currently is the ruling government in Delhi.
Aam Aadmi Party, which in Hindi would mean, the Common Man's Party and when abbreviated - AAP is a polite term for You; is the youngest of the political parties in the country that made a phenomenal debut by securing the second highest votes in the Delhi legislative assembly polls. Since the elections gave a hung-verdict, AAP along with the Congress party that is providing outside support, decided to form a minority government in the national capital.
While expectations have been riding high, the party that is still inexperienced has been gaining much bad publicity for continuing on a vigilante track. The Law Minster of Delhi, Somnath Bharti came under the scanner,when he tried to force the city police to conduct raids without proper warrants on illegal brotherals on Wednesday night.
On the same day, AAP vigilantes also targeted a group of four African women. The case seems to be of racial profiling as the African national were targeted simply because they were 'black' and the accepted notion is that they 'indulge in illegal activities,' reported The Indian express.
The group of women were returning from a party, when AAP members allegedly surrounded their car. It was also reported that one woman from the group was beaten up, an incident which was later confirmed by Delhi Police ACP B S Jakhar. The women were then taken to police station and hospital for drug test. The mob is also said to have told the African women that 'since they were blacks, they indulge in illegal activities.'
See how Somnath Bharti and his supporters are peddling stereotype. Forced him to pose with packets of popcorn? pic.twitter.com/nHG301d7a4
— India Policy (@India_Policy) January 17, 2014
Similarly, in another incident that is widely being discussed on Twitter, a Black national was allegedly caught near a movie theatre in Delhi and AAP supporters claimed that the man was supplying drugs. In the picture, the man is shown holding a packet containg a 'white' substance. However, on close inspection it looks more like a packet of 'popcorn.' The behaviour of the Law minister and AAP has certainly turned the tide against the party that was being seen as a symbol of new hope against corruption and government lethargy. However,these incidents have resulted in much discontent among the general public.
Public Reacts on Twitter
It's not just foreign nationals tomorrow AAP goons will label non AAP supporters as prostitutes and will ask police to search their homes — नंदीता ठाकुर (@nanditathhakur) January 17, 2014
Black women held captive by AAP Batman Bharti and AAPis forced to undergo body cavity search. Shame. Via @GargiRawat http://t.co/NgeRv9s7Ib
— Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) January 17, 2014
Can this Delhi AAP minister at least be human? No, he can't, because racism is inbuilt in our DNA http://t.co/PTw0cFfWVm — Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) January 17, 2014
How the near vigilantism of #AAP Law Minister Somnath Bharti smacks of racism http://t.co/5AvCEPKmXm
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) January 17, 2014
#AAP presenting a picture of gimmickry, anarchy: #ArunJaitley http://t.co/kVvv7JHoXg — Times of India (@timesofindia) January 17, 2014