A session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Tuesday after senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers accused Atishi, the leader of the opposition from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), of using "insensitive words" against the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur. The BJP members demanded an immediate and public apology from the AAP leader, leading to a major disruption that overshadowed the planned agenda.
Uproar Over Remarks During Martyrdom Anniversary Discussion
The controversy erupted during a discussion about the Delhi government's program held last November to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The opposition AAP MLAs had been pressing for a debate on the critical issue of Delhi's air pollution. However, the exact words spoken by Atishi that triggered the uproar were not clearly audible in the assembly's audio recordings.
BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa took a strong stance, stating that any disrespectful language used while discussing the Guru's sacrifice was unacceptable. "At a time when we discuss Guru Tegh Bahadurji's sacrifice, any disrespectful or improper word, regardless of intent, amounts to sin. Speaking such words alongside Guru Sahib's name is an act of dishonour and demands a public apology," Sirsa asserted in the House.
BJP Accusations and AAP's Counter-Charge of Distraction
Echoing the sentiment, Minister Ashish Sood condemned the act, calling it "a very low-level act." He pointed out that the government had already agreed to hold a discussion on pollution the following day and accused the opposition of becoming agitated upon hearing about the government's work in honouring the Sikh Guru.
In a sharp rebuttal issued later, the AAP accused the BJP government of deliberately turning the assembly session into a "distraction exercise" to avoid discussing air pollution. The party's statement claimed, "BJP knows a serious debate on pollution will expose its failures before the entire country and the world. That is why it is eager to talk about the so-called ‘phansi ghar' issue, but refuses to allow a discussion on pollution. In Parliament, too, BJP did not permit a discussion on pollution."
Speaker's Intervention and What Happens Next
Noting the sensitivity of the matter, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta intervened to restore order. He announced that the chair would review the video recording of the proceedings and that a censure motion could be brought against the opposition leader on Wednesday based on the findings.
The AAP further criticized the conduct of the session, alleging a pre-decided plan to muzzle its legislators. "The intent became clearer on the first day of the assembly session when AAP MLAs were not allowed to speak and thrown out for three days. If this was pre-decided, there was no need to convene the session at all. BJP could have held a panchayat at home and released a podcast," the party stated.
The incident has heightened political tensions in the capital, with a debate on Delhi's severe air pollution—the original demand of the AAP—now pushed to the background amidst the religious sensitivity row. The assembly awaits the Speaker's review and the potential tabling of a censure motion on Wednesday.
