(Trigger warning: Descriptions of domestic violence)
In a purported video that surfaced on social media on Thursday, 1 September, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Baljinder Kaur is seen being slapped by her husband in Punjab's Bathinda.
In the video that was shot on 10 July, the legislator from the town of Talwandi Sabo can be seen arguing with her husband Sukhraj Singh. In the middle of the heated argument, Singh suddenly gets up and slaps Kaur.
This argument transpired in front of a group of people who intervened after Singh slapped Kaur and pushed him away, as shown in the video.
Punjab Women's Body To Take Suo Motu Notice
In response to the video, Punjab Women's State Commission chairperson Manisha Gulati said that she had seen the video and would take suo motu notice of the incident.
"If an educated person who happens to be an elected legislator undergoes this domestic violence, imagine what must hundreds of women who are not powerful enough to speak up," Gulati was quoted as saying by News18.
Kaur is a member of the national executive of AAP and the president of the women's wing of the party in Punjab. She was associated with the India Against Corruption Movement and contested the 2017 Punjab elections from the Talwandi Sabo constituency. She won with a margin of 19,293 votes.
Sukhraj Singh is the AAP's youth wing convener for the Majha region and married Baljinder Kaur in 2019.
Kaur was formerly a professor of English at Mata Gujri College in Fatehgarh Sahib.
(With inputs from PTI, The Print, and News18.)
‘Coward, Lacks Character & Not Fit To Be Anyone’s Partner.’: Jaiveer Shergill
Former Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill said, "Any man raising a hand on a woman is a coward, lacks character & not fit to be anyone’s partner.
"Urge @BhagwantMann Ji & Commission for Women to take strictest action against husband of AAP MLA Baljinder Kaur for slapping her," Shergill added.
Punjab Youth Congress President Brinder Dhillon said, "Empowering women is not a deterrent to stop violence against women.
"The problem lies in the perpetrator’s of these acts. Change this male chauvinism attitude more then anything else," he said.
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