The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has served a show cause notice to its spokesperson Rupali Thombare for her remarks criticising Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson Rupali Chakankar, stating that her comments violated party discipline.
The NCP`s organisation general secretary, Sanjay Khodke, in the show-cause notice, sought a reply from Thombare in seven days.
Thombare was informed that her comments against Chakankar in the media amounted to a violation of party discipline.
The party spokesperson had criticised Chakankar over the latter`s remarks about the woman doctor who committed suicide in Phaltan, Satara, last month. In a press conference in Satara on October 27, Chakankar had given details of the doctor`s call records.
Posting the show cause notice on social media, Thombare said seven days is too little time to respond to the allegation.
The NCP leader said she would respond in detail regarding Chakankar`s character assassination of the deceased woman doctor and the Pune dowry death.
The notice stated, “While holding the responsibility of the position of State Spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party, you have made statements in the media regarding the Chairperson of the State Women`s Commission and the President of the Party`s Women`s Wing, which amounts to a breach of party discipline. Therefore, you are hereby directed to submit an explanation to the State Office within seven (7) days as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Failing to do so will result in appropriate further action being initiated against you.”
The development comes after Rupali Patil Thombre, along with several women`s organisations, staged a protest in Pune against the State Women`s Commission over the alleged suicide case of a woman doctor from Satara district. Thombre had accused the Commission and its Chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, of inaction in the matter and demanded Chakankar`s resignation.
Reacting to the notice, Thombre posted a response on Facebook late Friday night, stating that the time given by the party for her explanation was “extremely short” and that she would provide a detailed clarification.
“Tonight, the party has sought an explanation regarding the remarks made about the Chairperson of the Women`s Commission, who is known for delivering justice to women across the world. I will be giving a detailed clarification covering everything–from the issue of personal interests to the Hagawane case and the character assassination of our late sister, the woman doctor from Satara who committed suicide,” she wrote.
Thombre further questioned, “But really, what explanation should be given about those who defamed the character of the deceased sister?”
