Delhi government proposes name of Hindi novelist Maitreyi Pushpa for DCW top post

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has suggested the name of eminent Hindi novelist Maitreyi Pushpa as the new chief of Delhi Commission for Women to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

"As per its promise to appoint a non-political, eminent personality as DCW chairperson, the government has proposed Maitreyi Pushpa's name to the Lt Governor," a government official said today.

The suggestion has come in the backdrop of the AAP government accusing the present DCW chairperson Barkha Singh of "politicising" the role of her office while dealing with the midnight raid episode allegedly involving Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

69-year-old Pushpa is a Hindi fiction writer and has 10 novels and seven short story collections to her credit.

Best known among her works are 'Chak', ' Alma Kabutari', 'Jhoola Nat' and an autobiographical novel 'Kasturi Kundal Base'.

According to her official website, she also writes for newspapers on current issues concerning women, and is known for her daring stance in her writings.

Pushpa was born in Sikurra village, Aligarh district. She spent her childhood in Khilli, another village in Bundelkhand near Jhansi and did her post graduation in Hindi from Bundelkhand College, Jhansi.

Earlier, DCW had summoned Bharti over allegations that he had led a group of AAP workers on a raid against some African women in south Delhi after claiming they were involved in a drug and prostitution racket.

Bharti had been asked to depose before the Commission on January 24, but he had sent his lawyers instead who explained that the law minister was absent due to "some urgencies".

AAP, in a statement, had said it "strongly disapproves of the politicisation of the Delhi Commission for Women by its chairperson".