The Delhi Assembly witnessed high drama and repeated adjournments on Wednesday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators stormed the well of the House, demanding stringent action against Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Atishi for allegedly making disrespectful remarks about the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur. The protest forced Speaker Vijender Gupta to adjourn the proceedings twice, with the House finally being adjourned for the day, setting the stage for a potentially explosive final day of the Winter Session on Thursday.
BJP's Protest and Demands
Carrying posters and shouting slogans, BJP MLAs trooped into the well of the Assembly, creating a ruckus that halted legislative business. The protesting members submitted a formal letter to the Speaker, demanding that a criminal case be registered against Atishi and her membership of the House be revoked. The letter, signed by Delhi ministers and MLAs including Parvesh Sahib Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ashish Sood, and Kapil Mishra, termed Atishi's alleged statement as "indecent, shameful, and disrespectful."
"Those who insult Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji through this House do not belong in this House, but in Tihar Jail," the strongly-worded letter stated. Speaker Gupta, earlier in the day, commented that he had a verbatim record of Atishi's statement, which he found "condemnable" and "unacceptable."
Atishi's Fierce Rebuttal and 'Fake Video' Allegation
In a sharp counter-attack, Atishi, the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, accused the BJP of spreading lies and manipulating footage to malign her. She took to social media to post two contrasting videos of her Assembly speech—one shared by AAP and another circulated by the BJP. She labeled the AAP video as "genuine" and the BJP's version as "fake."
Atishi vehemently denied insulting the Sikh Guru and turned the tables on the BJP. "I can give my life, but I cannot insult Guru Sahib," she asserted. She explained that the discussion in question was not about the 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom, which had concluded, but had moved on to a discussion on the Lieutenant Governor's address. She accused the BJP of adding wrong subtitles and inserting the Guru's name into the video to create a false narrative.
"The BJP hates the Sikh community and the Gurus, and even today, they have committed a disgusting act by insulting the Gurus," Atishi charged. She highlighted Guru Tegh Bahadur's sacrifice for protecting people of other faiths and accused the BJP of misusing his name for "petty politics."
Political Fallout and Upcoming Session
The controversy has sharply escalated the ongoing political tussle between the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP in the capital. AAP MLA Gopal Rai supported Atishi's stance and demanded the original video recording of her statement from the Assembly. He further alleged that the BJP was creating a ruckus to avoid a crucial discussion on Delhi's severe pollution issue.
With the Winter Session scheduled to conclude on Thursday, January 9, 2026, the issue is expected to dominate proceedings once again. The confrontation has moved beyond the Assembly floor to social media and public discourse, reflecting the deep political divisions. The Speaker's handling of the demands for action against the LoP will be closely watched, as both sides dig in their heels over the sensitive issue involving religious sentiments.
