No Regrets, Won’t Apologise: BJYM’s Priyanka Sharma After Release

BJYM worker Priyanka Sharma addressed the media after her release from jail on Wednesday by the Kolkata Police.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha worker Priyanka Sharma addresses media after her release from jail.

(Photo: The Quint)

After she was released by Kolkata Police on Wednesday, 15 May, BJP Youth Wing Convenor Priyanka Sharma said she has done nothing wrong and that she “will not apologise” for anything.

“I have not done anything for which I have to apologise. I will fight for this,” she said during a press conference, adding that she had no regrets about sharing the meme.

Sharma was arrested on 10 May by the police under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code and other provisions of the Information Technology Act on a complaint of local Trinamool Congress leader Vibhas Hazra, for allegedly sharing a meme on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

She was then sent to 14-day judicial custody by a trial court. Speaking to reporters, she said though the meme was “being posted everywhere, I was picked because I am from the Opposition party.”

‘Targeted Me Because I am a Woman’

“Police told me that I have posted something like this and ‘that is why we’ll take you.’ When I told them that let me talk to my party people and lawyer, they said that ‘now you will talk there (police station) only.’ They also took my phone.”

Priyanka Sharma at the press conference

“They have targeted me because I am a woman. I have been going to every house in Ward No 6 and giving booth slips, which they do not want. If a girl is going out, they cannot beat her by entering her house or cannot abduct her from the road, so for a normal thing, they have done this,” she said.

When asked whether she found the meme objectionable, Sharma said “it was a troll (sic),” adding that if she’s being arrested then the CM should also be arrested for her statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking about her stay in the prison, she said that there was no water for women prisoners and food arrangement was also not good. “What to say... it is very bad,” she added. 

‘Not Afraid of Anything’

Asked about her electoral aspirations and her entry into active politics, she said, "Absolutely, why not?" adding that this is the right time to do enter politics.

"There is no scope of fear now," she added. "For five days I was in prison, felt like five years and now I am not afraid of anything."

Her counsel told the reporters that while she was released in the morning at 9:45 am (on Wednesday), she was forcefully made to write a letter at 9 am, which he alleged amounted to contempt of court. 

He also claimed that they asked for a certified copy of the letter, which the superintendent refused to give.

The top court did not ask for Sharma to sign any personal bond but she was made to do so, the counsel added.