Alka Lamba compares DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal with ex-chief Barkha Singh

NEW DELHI: Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba created another furore when she compared the new chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, unfavourably with ex-chief Barkha Singh. Maliwal is a nominee of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

Lamba, an AAP member, had submitted a complaint against BJP MLA OP Sharma for calling her a "drug addict" and was miffed at the commission for not taking any action even after four days.

Barkha Singh, who Lamba held up as an example, is someone whom AAP was in a bitter battle with over her action against two party members - Somnath Bharti and Kumar Vishwas. A Congress member, Singh was often accused of witch hunting by AAP and targeting its members. Maliwal replaced her in July after her term expired.

On Thursday morning, after emerging from a meeting with DCW, Lamba said: "I remember when Barkha was DCW chief. When a case was registered in the morning, an FIR used to be filed at night. Here it has been 3-4 days since I lodged a complaint but an FIR has been registered against me."

However, by evening Lamba denied having portrayed Singh in a favourable light. "I said that justice should not be dispensed in Barkha's style either as, without investigating a complaint, she used to register cases and hold press conferences at her residence. I don't mind the commission taking time to investigate my complaint as long as I get justice," she said.

Maliwal acknowledged that Lamba was upset at having been summoned. "We are following a policy of speaking to all complainants before moving ahead with investigation. DCW does not believe in character assassination. Based on evidence produced by her, we have summoned the SHO of Kashmere Gate police station and will proceed as per law," she said.