In a dramatic turn of events at the Delhi Assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused Delhi's newly elected Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of removing portraits of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and Dalit icon BR Ambedkar from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The accusation has sparked a political firestorm, leading to clashes in the assembly and a brief adjournment of the House.
The AAP has vehemently criticized the alleged removal, calling it an "anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh" act. Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, now a prominent AAP leader, stated that the removal of the portraits, which were originally installed by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, demonstrates the BJP's inherent prejudice against Dalits and Sikhs. Arvind Kejriwal, AAP convenor, echoed this sentiment, expressing his disappointment and asserting that the alleged act has hurt millions of Ambedkar's followers. He urged the BJP not to remove Ambedkar's photo, suggesting that they could display Prime Minister Modi's photo alongside it.
The BJP has strongly refuted the AAP's allegations, dismissing them as baseless rumors and a tactic to divert attention from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports that are expected to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta responded to the allegations by having cameras show her office in the Delhi Assembly to disprove Atishi's claim that Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh's portraits were removed. The Delhi BJP also shared images on social media showing portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi displayed in the Chief Minister's office.
BJP leaders have accused the AAP of engaging in "petty politics" and attempting to create a distraction. They highlighted that during Arvind Kejriwal's tenure as Chief Minister, he had allegedly mandated the display of only Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh's portraits in government offices, excluding other prominent leaders. Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that the controversy was a deliberate attempt to shift focus from the impending CAG report, while another BJP minister, Ravinder Indraj, accused the AAP of "fear-mongering" in anticipation of the report's release.
The accusations and counter-accusations have created uproar in the Delhi Assembly, with Speaker Vijender Gupta adjourning proceedings for a short period due to the disruptive behavior of AAP members. Amidst the turmoil, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the AAP of "hiding behind Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh" to conceal their alleged misdeeds. She defended the presence of portraits of national leaders, including the President and Mahatma Gandhi, in the CMO, emphasizing that Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar remain guiding figures. She stated that she is answerable to the people, not to the AAP. Minister Ashish Sood added that the government remains focused on fulfilling its promises to the public rather than engaging in political disputes.
The controversy surrounding the portraits reflects the deep political divisions and heightened tensions between the AAP and BJP in Delhi. As both parties trade accusations and attempt to shape the narrative, the focus on ideological symbols and historical figures underscores the ongoing battle for political dominance in the capital. The incident also raises questions about the appropriate display of political figures in government spaces and the potential for such displays to become points of contention in a politically charged environment.
