The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a strong counter-offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dismissing allegations that its Delhi Leader of Opposition, Atishi, made derogatory remarks about the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The party has accused the BJP of deliberately misrepresenting her comments and circulating a manipulated video to stir a political controversy in Punjab.
The Core of the Controversy: A Doctored Video?
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Atishi presented her side of the story, alleging that the BJP had propagated two significant falsehoods. She claimed the circulated video clip was not from the discussion marking the 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom, but from a subsequent session on the Lieutenant Governor's address.
Furthermore, she asserted that her actual speech was about the BJP evading a discussion on pollution and their protest in the assembly concerning stray dogs. "I said: ‘Then you please conduct the discussion. Why are you running away since morning? You are saying, respect the dogs! Respect the dogs! Honourable Speaker, please allow a discussion on this,'" Atishi wrote. She accused the BJP of adding a false subtitle and inserting Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's name into it to create a malicious narrative.
Political Repercussions and Demands for Action
The BJP's allegations had earlier triggered a political storm in Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday called for an FIR to be registered against Atishi, her removal as the LoP, and a public apology. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar stated on Facebook that the incident exposed the AAP's "true mindset" and "hypocrisy."
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also joined the chorus, seeking an unconditional public apology and Atishi's resignation. The demands underscored the sensitivity of the issue and the immediate political fallout it generated.
Atishi's Personal Rebuttal and Allegations of BJP's Motives
In her forceful rebuttal, Atishi not only denied the charges but also turned the tables on the BJP. She accused the party of harbouring hatred towards Sikhs and falsely dragging the revered Guru's name into a political row for vested interests.
Invoking her personal background to underline her respect for the Sikh faith, she wrote, "I come from a family where, for generations, the eldest son has adopted Sikhism to protect society. I can give my life, but I cannot insult the Guru Sahib." This statement aimed to categorically reject the core accusation and challenge the narrative built by the BJP and its allies.
The controversy highlights the intense political rivalry in Punjab and the national capital, with historical and religious sentiments becoming a focal point of contention. The AAP's strategy is to frame the incident as a case of malicious misinformation by the BJP, while the opposition parties in Punjab see it as an opportunity to corner the AAP on a sensitive issue.
