Labour supporters have condemned London Mayor Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party after they claimed their candidate for Ealing Central and Acton Rupa Asha Huq was “manhandled” by a Tory activist, says UK’s ‘Independent’ newspaper.
Rupa Asha Huq, born to Bangladeshi migrant parents in 1972, has been a former Deputy Mayor of the London borough of Ealing Central and Acton. She is a writer and columnist and a sociology professor at Kingston University.
The ‘manhandling’ took place during a walkabout, as the Mayor of London was canvassing support for the local Tory candidate, Angie Bray, when Rupa Huq tried to draw him into debate about the issues facing Ealing.
Johnson and Bray can be seen striding along the pavement in pictures published by the ‘Independent’ when Huq is repeatedly grabbed by the activist who tries drag her away from Johnson.
A Tory activist grabs Labour candidate Rupa Huq. Photo taken from Twitter feed of @SelsdonChapman
He then appears to push Angie Bray branded leaflets across her face.
“Boris Johnson and his team owe me an apology – it’s about the example politicians like him set to people, particularly around how women are treated,” Huq is quoted by ‘Independent’ as saying.
“If figures like Boris Johnson want to engage with voters, they can’t react to questioning by manhandling people. You wouldn’t accept it in other walks of life, and people expect better from the Mayor of London.”
In response to the allegations, Julian Gallant, chairman of the Ealing Central and Acton Conservative Association, said that it was a regrettable situation, but that at no point was Huq dragged or assaulted by the activist.
Source: Bd news24