A video has surfaced on social media in which a cab driver - claiming to be a "social worker" of Varsha Gaikwad, Congress MP from Mumbai North Central constituency - abuses and forces a traffic policeman to touch his feet.
After the video went viral, the Congress MP denied having any link with the accused driver and said that the man in the video disrespecting a traffic constable was falsely portrayed as her "social worker."
CAUTION: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
The one-and-a-half-minute video starts with a traffic cop holding the man by his hair and asking him to get inside the car. Moments later, after the cop and the driver are inside the car, the man in uniform tries to snatch the phone from the driver as he records him. The man then claims that the traffic cop assaulted him for just clicking a picture. He then starts driving. As the car moves forward, the cop starts pleading and asks him to stop the car, at which point the driver starts abusing him.
The driver then stops the car and gets out. He asks the traffic cop to apologise in front of the camera. The cop gets out of the car and touches the driver's feet.
The location and time when the incident was captured remain uncertain.
Responding to the viral video, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said, "After a thorough review, my team and I can categorically state that this is a malicious attempt at false representation and deliberate character assassination. I want to make it clear that the individual in question is neither known to me nor associated with me in any capacity."
Raising doubt about the viral video, she said, "The so-called traffic constable in the video appears to be an impersonator. This not only misrepresents me but also maligns the Mumbai Police."
She said that her office had gotten in touch with the police and a case would be filed in this regard.
Gaikwad urged Mumbai Police and the state's Home department to take strict action against the channel responsible, the individuals in the video, and all those involved in the circulation of this deceptive content.
She also appealed to social media websites to remove the viral video from their platforms.
"It is disheartening to see the lengths to which some will go to target a Dalit woman who is a staunch follower of the teachings of Mahamanav, Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. This attack is not just on me but on the values and principles I stand for," she added.
