Leader of the Opposition and AAP leader Atishi was charged by the BJP on Tuesday of disparaging Guru Tegh Bahadur during a Delhi Assembly session. BJP lawmakers claimed the comments offended Sikh sensitivities and called for a public apology.
The topic was brought up during a discussion about a Delhi government program that was held in November of last year to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru. There was a commotion in the House when opposition AAP MLAs brought up the topic of air pollution during the discussion.
What took place in the House?
BJP leaders claim that the purported comments were made during the House’s discussion on the sacrifice made by Guru Tegh Bahadur. However, the audio that was accessible did not clearly capture Atishi’s exact statements. Despite this, BJP officials declared that it was inappropriate to use any offensive language next to the Guru’s name.
Even inadvertent disrespect at such a religious talk is a serious offense that calls for an apology, according to Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The government had already planned a full-day pollution discussion for the next day, he said.
BJP seeks censure motion
Minister Ashish Sood described the incident as a “low-level act” and accused the opposition of disrupting the discussion to avoid acknowledging the government’s programme in honour of the Sikh guru. Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said the matter was sensitive and assured that the video would be examined. He said a censure motion could be brought in the House the next day.
BJP MLA Harish Khurana also condemned the alleged remarks and said the party would move a censure motion, stressing that the pollution debate was already planned.
AAP hits back
The AAP later released a statement accusing the BJP of using the Assembly session as a diversion to avoid having a meaningful conversation about pollution. According to the party, the BJP was afraid that a thorough discussion on pollution would reveal its shortcomings to the general public.
Ministers Kapil Mishra and Manjinder Singh Sirsa were among the BJP leaders who vehemently denounced Atishi’s actions and reiterated the call for an apology both within and outside the House. They claimed that they had never witnessed such behavior during a debate on a holy topic.
When the Assembly revisits the issue, it is anticipated that the political squabbling will continue.
