The political storm in Delhi over a video clip allegedly showing AAP's Leader of Opposition Atishi making objectionable remarks refused to subside on Sunday. The controversy took a more confrontational turn as Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva publicly challenged AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal, escalating a war of words between the two rival parties.
BJP's Dare and Allegations of Authenticity
In a significant escalation, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva took to social media platform X to post the contentious video clip. He directly dared Arvind Kejriwal to have First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him and thousands of BJP workers. This move came after the BJP had previously accused Atishi of insulting a Sikh guru during proceedings in the Vidhan Sabha, an allegation strongly denied by the Aam Aadmi Party.
Sachdeva asserted that the video, initially shared by BJP minister Kapil Mishra, was authentic and was recorded during the actual Assembly proceedings. He highlighted that the Speaker had already ordered a probe into the clip, expressing confidence that the truth would emerge. He further alleged that despite the matter falling under the Speaker's jurisdiction, the AAP-led government in Punjab had registered an FIR against Mishra. "I, along with thousands of BJP workers, am sharing the same clip. If Kejriwal has the courage, let his Punjab government file FIRs against all of us," Sachdeva declared.
AAP's Counter-Protest and Allegations of Tampering
In a swift response, the Aam Aadmi Party organized a protest demonstration outside the BJP's headquarters in Delhi. The party members accused the BJP of deliberately circulating a manipulated video to tarnish Atishi's image and disrespect Sikh religious sentiments. Several AAP functionaries and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were reportedly detained by police during this protest.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj led the charge, alleging that Kapil Mishra had inserted words into the original video clip to deliberately inflame religious passions. Bharadwaj demanded an apology from the chief minister, holding the BJP responsible for the fabricated content. The AAP maintained its stance that the video was doctored and part of a malicious political conspiracy.
BJP Claims Expose Internal AAP Rifts
The BJP, however, spun the narrative to suggest the protest revealed deep internal divisions within the AAP. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor pointed to the turnout at the demonstration held in support of Atishi. He claimed that only a small number of party workers attended the event, and notably, 21 out of AAP's 22 Delhi MLAs stayed away.
Kapoor interpreted this low attendance as a sign that senior leaders within the AAP were deliberately distancing themselves from Atishi, possibly with the tacit consent of Arvind Kejriwal himself. This claim added another layer to the controversy, suggesting the video row might have triggered internal political maneuvering within the ruling party.
The incident has sharply intensified the already bitter political rivalry in the national capital. With the Speaker's probe pending, FIRs filed in Punjab, and both sides digging in their heels, the controversy over the alleged remarks and the authenticity of the video is poised to dominate Delhi's political discourse in the coming days.
