Indian-origin campaigner threatens to sue UK minister
An Indian-origin civil rights campaigner has threatened to sue a cabinet minister for allegedly insinuating that her relationship with former shadow Home Secretary David Davis was inappropriate.
LONDON: An Indian-origin civil rights campaigner has threatened to sue a cabinet minister for allegedly insinuating that her relationship with former shadow Home Secretary David Davis was inappropriate.
Shami Chakrabarti, 39, the prominent director of civil rights group Liberty, has demanded a public apology from Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, who she accuses of "tawdry" character assassination and innuendo.
The director of the leading human rights group, who is married and has a son, has written a strongly-worded letter to Burnham after he accused her of having "late-night, hand- wringing, heart-melting phone calls" with Davis.
Chakrabarti has demanded a written apology from Burnham to herself, and to Doreen Davis, wife of David Davis, who resigned his parliamentary seat this week to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties.
In an article in the left-wing 'Progress' magazine, Burnham allegedly implied that Davis stance was a result of his close relationship with the civil liberties chief and their "curious" phone calls.
In her letter, copied to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Chief Whip Geoff Hoon, Chakrabarti says that she is surprised at Burnham's actions, given that he is himself married with young children.
She goes on to warn that she will launch legal proceedings if the allegations are repeated.
"I am writing in relation to your recent article in the ironically titled Progress magazine. In that article you set out to smear my dealings with the former Shadow Home Secretary," the letter said.
Shami Chakrabarti, 39, the prominent director of civil rights group Liberty, has demanded a public apology from Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, who she accuses of "tawdry" character assassination and innuendo.
The director of the leading human rights group, who is married and has a son, has written a strongly-worded letter to Burnham after he accused her of having "late-night, hand- wringing, heart-melting phone calls" with Davis.
Chakrabarti has demanded a written apology from Burnham to herself, and to Doreen Davis, wife of David Davis, who resigned his parliamentary seat this week to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties.
In an article in the left-wing 'Progress' magazine, Burnham allegedly implied that Davis stance was a result of his close relationship with the civil liberties chief and their "curious" phone calls.
In her letter, copied to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Chief Whip Geoff Hoon, Chakrabarti says that she is surprised at Burnham's actions, given that he is himself married with young children.
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She goes on to warn that she will launch legal proceedings if the allegations are repeated.
"I am writing in relation to your recent article in the ironically titled Progress magazine. In that article you set out to smear my dealings with the former Shadow Home Secretary," the letter said.
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