The Delhi Legislative Assembly descended into chaos for the third consecutive day on Friday, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a bitter war of words. The flashpoint was an alleged remark by Leader of Opposition Atishi concerning the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur. The acrimony led to the expulsion of four AAP legislators from the House and spilled onto the streets of the capital.
Expulsions and Escalating Confrontation
The situation reached a boiling point following a major uproar on the assembly floor. Speaker Vijender Gupta took the drastic step of expelling AAP MLAs Sanjeev Jha, Jarnail Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, and Som Dutt. The confrontation, however, did not end within the assembly's walls. Leaders and workers from both parties continued to trade accusations outside, each blaming the other for allegedly insulting the revered Sikh Guru.
The core of the dispute is a video clip shared by BJP minister Kapil Mishra on the social media platform X. The clip purportedly contains comments by Atishi that the BJP claims are disrespectful towards Guru Tegh Bahadur. The AAP has vehemently disputed the clip's authenticity, asserting that a fabricated transcript was attached to it. The party has turned the accusation around, claiming that the BJP's actions themselves constitute an insult to the Guru.
Probes, Protests, and Political Point-Scoring
In response to the escalating row, Speaker Vijender Gupta has taken two significant steps. He has ordered a forensic investigation to verify the authenticity of the controversial video clip. Simultaneously, he has referred the matter to the assembly's privilege committee for further examination. The BJP has formally sought the disqualification of Atishi from the House.
Political demonstrations erupted across the city. Delhi BJP functionaries, led by national general secretary Tarun Chugh, staged a protest outside the AAP headquarters. Chugh alleged a pattern of disrespect, linking the incident to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. "Whether it is Bhagwant Mann in Punjab or Atishi in Delhi, both, acting at the behest of Arvind Kejriwal, are continuously insulting Sikh Gurus and the faith," Chugh claimed. He characterized the act as a deliberate attempt to hurt Sikh sentiments.
On the other side, the four suspended AAP MLAs held a demonstration on the assembly premises. They turned the tables by demanding the disqualification of Kapil Mishra for allegedly circulating what they called a "fake video" to defame Atishi. Sanjeev Jha, who serves as the chief whip of the opposition, accused the BJP of diversionary tactics. "Delhi is facing a series of serious issues, whether it is contaminated water, air pollution… To divert attention, BJP made a fake video and used the Guru Sahib's name to avoid discussions on the real problems," Jha alleged.
A Deepening Political Fault Line
This incident underscores the intensely polarized political climate in Delhi. What began as a dispute over a social media post has rapidly escalated into a full-blown constitutional and communal controversy, involving expulsions, forensic probes, and street protests. The referral to the privilege committee and the pending forensic report ensure that the issue will remain a potent political weapon for both sides in the days to come. The battle lines are clearly drawn, with each party positioning itself as the true defender of religious sentiments while accusing the other of blasphemous politicking.
