Twitterati Criticises BJP Leader Sonali Phogat, #ArrestSonaliPhogat Trends

On the 6th of June, Twitter is flooded with messages posting the viral video of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Sonali Phogat beating a man.  Sonali Phogat is a BJP leader from Adampur in Hisar.

The video which went viral on the 5th of June, shows Sonali Phogat beating a Market Committee Official in Hisar with slippers and hand.   She was seen slapping the man.  In the video Ms. Phogat was seen saying, “Do I work to listen to such kinds of abuses from people like you? Don’t I have (the) right to a dignified life? He used the wrong language and talked in an ill-mannered way. Write a report against him,”

Ms. Phogat said, the Market Official used derogatory comments against her and disrespected her.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress (INC)  took to Twitter and shared the video saying, “Exploits of the leaders of the Khattar Government. The BJP leader from Adampur in Hisar is beating the Market Committee official like animals.”  The Tweet further read, “Is doing Government job a crime? Will (Chief Minister) Khattar take action? Will the media still remain silent?” 

However, Ms. Phogat denied the allegations and said she went to meet the officials of the district Market Committee on the 5th of June regarding the issue of farmers.  She said an official was showing her the place in the Balsamand area of Hisar district where a shed could come up for the convenience of farmers when he started passing indecent and derogatory remarks against her.

Sonali Phogat said, “When he was showing me the place where the shed was to come up, he first made a mention of the community to which I belong. He also talked about another woman official and a woman minister who also come from the same community as mine.”

When asked why she started beating the man, instead of filing a FIR, Ms. Sonali said,  “What right does he (official) have to talk to a woman like this? If he would not be taught a lesson, he would not let any woman come out tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the market official who was beaten by Ms. Phogat filed a complaint against her with the Superintendent of Police (Hisar) Ganga Ram Punia.

Mr. Punia said, “We will take whatever action is required as per law.” 

Meanwhile Twitter is flooded with messages under #ArrestSonaliPhogat.