Congress's Radhika Khera quits days after alleging disrespect to women in party

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 5, 2024 17:13 IST

Chhattisgarh Congress leader Radhika Khera, who alleged disrespect in the state's party unit and vowed to expose people suffering from a "male chauvinistic mentality" within the party, has resigned and quit the grand old party.

In her resignation letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Khera said she faced criticism from within the party because she could not stop herself from visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and getting a glimpse of Ram Lalla idol.

"I have given more than 22 years of my life to this party and worked with full honesty from NSUI to the Congress's media department. Despite that, I had to face such intense opposition because I am supporting Ram in Ayodhya," she said.

She alleged that justice was denied to her when she claimed she was disrespected in the Chhattisgarh Congress unit.

Khera said she was renouncing primary membership of Congress and resigned from her post with "great pain".

"Yes, I am a girl and can fight. That is what I am doing now. I will continue to fight for justice for myself and my countrymen," she said.

"I have always fought from every platform for the justice of others, but when it came to my own justice, I found myself defeated in the party. Being a devotee of Lord Shri Ram and a woman, I am deeply hurt, she further said.

Earlier, a video of Khera from the premises of Rajeev Bhavan in Raipur had also gone viral on social media. The video showed Khera visibly upset, expressing grievances about disrespect towards her.

She was heard making allegations against an unnamed individual, stating that nobody in the party is respected, especially female politicians. According to sources, the individual in question is Chhattisgarh Congress's communication wing chairperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

On the condition of anonymity, an insider revealed that Khera had frequently clashed with Shukla over trivial matters, even during last year’s assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. They have a strained relationship, and the current incident was seen as another episode of ego clash.

Sources said that Radhika Khera wanted to conduct a press briefing on a subject of her choice before Congress leader Pawan Khera’s scheduled press conference. However, Shukla refused, leading to a heated argument and Radhika leaving the office in distress, sources added.