The National Commission for Women has taken note of a misogynistic tweet sent by Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, inciting hatred and malice towards Nupur Sharma, a former spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Rekha Sharma, the commission’s president, wrote to the DGP of Uttar Pradesh to ask that Akhilesh Yadav be punished appropriately for his tweet.

In accordance with Indian Penal Code Sections 504 (Intentional insult with aim to instigate breach of the peace), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 509 (Word, gesture, or act intended to offend the modesty of a lady), NCW requested that the DGP UP take action against Akhilesh Yadav.

The letter reads, “The statement of Sh. Akhilesh Yadav is unsolicited as the matter is already being looked into by the Judiciary. Ms Nupur Sharma is already facing threat to her life and the tweet of Sh. Akhilesh is a sheer instigation to the general public to assault Ms Sharma. A fair investigation must be accomplished in a time-bound manner.” “Considering the gravity of the matter, you are, required to take immediate action against Sh. Akhilesh Yadav under the aforesaid provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 along-with other relevant provisions of the law,” the letter further added. NCW further specified that the Commission must be notified of every detailed action taken in the case within three days. NCW President Rekha Sharma herself took note of the tweet and noted how it is instigating people to assault Nupur Sharma.

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