Indo-Canadian MP denies sexual harassment charge

Toronto, August 30

An Indo-Canadian MP from the ruling Liberal Party, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a female staffer, has denied the charges levelled against him.

Punjab-born Darshan Kang (66), who immigrated to Canada in 1970 and currently represents a constituency from Calgary, has been accused of sexual overtures by a 24-year-old female staffer who works in his constituency office in Calgary.

The allegations involving the Liberal MP initially surfaced in mid-August. According to Ottawa-based newspaper the Hill Times, the staffer filed the complaint in June with Chief Liberal Whip Pablo Rodriguez.

According to her father, Kang sexually harassed her over four to five years when he subjected her to “unwelcome hugs” and even tried to hold her hand during car rides.

The father alleged that once Kang brought her to a hotel room in Ottawa, offered her wine and then tried to remove her jacket.

Kang issued a statement on Tuesday claiming innocence even as a new allegation surfaced that he tried to buy the woman’s silence by offering her $100,000.

The opposition National Democratic Party urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately suspend the Calgary MP from the Liberal caucus until an investigation was completed.

Trudeau said he would not offer any comment until an investigation was completed. — IANS