New Delhi – Six ministers of the Delhi government have submitted a formal letter to the Legislative Assembly Speaker seeking cancellation of Leader of Opposition Atishi’s membership as an MLA, marking an unprecedented Atishi disqualification demand that intensifies political pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party leader. The Atishi disqualification demand stems from allegations by Bharatiya Janata Party members that she “committed sacrilege” during House proceedings last week.
The controversy surrounding the Atishi disqualification demand erupted on January 6 during a special Assembly discussion commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, a revered figure in Sikh history.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
BJP legislators supporting the Atishi disqualification demand allege that the AAP leader disrupted the solemn proceedings with remarks they characterize as “disrespectful” to Sikh Gurus. However, Atishi and her party have vehemently denied these charges, calling the Atishi disqualification demand a politically motivated fabrication designed to undermine the opposition.
The dispute has triggered protests and counter-protests that disrupted proceedings during the recently held Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly, turning the chamber into a battleground over religious sensitivities and political accountability.
Culture Minister’s Accusations
At a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra amplified the Atishi disqualification demand by alleging that the opposition leader had gone “missing” since the controversy erupted to evade accountability for her alleged remarks.
“The words used during the session amount to sacrilege and constitute a crime and a sin. The incident was recorded and the verbatim transcript of the video was read out by the Speaker in the House on January 7 at 11.30am. No member present objected to the accuracy of the transcript at that time,” Mishra stated, lending weight to the Atishi disqualification demand.
Punjab Police Involvement Allegations
Mishra further complicated the Atishi disqualification demand by raising allegations of “misuse of Punjab government resources,” suggesting that AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal directed the Punjab Police to file “false cases” to intimidate those raising the sacrilege issue.
The minister appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to not involve his state’s police in the Delhi matter, adding another layer to the controversy surrounding the Atishi disqualification demand.
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Forensic Audit Ordered
Following days of heated exchanges over the Atishi disqualification demand, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta took a significant step on January 8 by sending official video recordings of the January 6 proceedings for an independent forensic audit to ascertain the facts objectively.
This forensic examination is expected to provide crucial evidence either supporting or refuting the Atishi disqualification demand, making it a pivotal development in the unfolding controversy.
Punjab Police FIR Creates New Dimension
In a parallel development that has complicated the Atishi disqualification demand, Punjab Police in Jalandhar registered an FIR on Friday against Mishra and others for allegedly uploading and circulating “doctored” videos of the incident. This police action has drawn sharp criticism from the Delhi Assembly.
The Delhi Assembly secretariat sent a notice to Punjab Police, stating their FIR was a breach of the legislature’s privilege, as the video is considered property of the House, directly challenging the investigation that contradicts the Atishi disqualification demand.
Speaker Questions Investigation Timeline
Speaker Gupta noted on Tuesday that Punjab Police had requested 10 days to respond to the Assembly’s notice but were granted only three, with a deadline of January 15. His comments questioning the investigation’s pace add complexity to the Atishi disqualification demand proceedings.
“The Punjab police claims to have conducted a forensic audit of a video within half a day before they filed an FIR, but they now want 10 days to respond… This clearly seems like a politically motivated attempt at delaying the investigation,” Gupta observed.
AAP Counterattack and Demands
The Aam Aadmi Party stepped up its counteroffensive against the Atishi disqualification demand on Tuesday, demanding a public apology from Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra over alleged “beadbi” (sacrilege) of Sikh Guru Sahibs and calling the act unforgivable.
AAP leader and Delhi unit president Saurabh Bhardwaj cited the Punjab Police forensic investigation, claiming it established that the word “Guru” was never spoken by Atishi, directly challenging the basis of the Atishi disqualification demand.
Forensic Evidence Claims
“The forensic report makes it clear that the word was not in the original video. Despite this, Kapil Mishra added subtitles referring to the Guru Sahibs. This is a clear act of beadbi. A sitting BJP minister has insulted the Guru Sahibs for dirty politics. The Sikh community across India and abroad is watching,” Bhardwaj asserted.
He demanded an unconditional apology to the global Sikh community and accused the BJP of shielding leaders facing serious allegations, effectively turning the Atishi disqualification demand narrative on its head.
Legal and Political Implications
The Atishi disqualification demand has evolved into a major political confrontation with significant legal ramifications. The dispute involves questions of legislative privilege, forensic evidence authenticity, religious sensitivities, and inter-state police jurisdiction.
“If Kapil Mishra believes he can escape accountability, he is mistaken. The law will take its course,” Bhardwaj warned, suggesting that the controversy surrounding the Atishi disqualification demand is far from resolved.
The outcome of the forensic audit and the Speaker’s decision on the Atishi disqualification demand will likely have far-reaching consequences for Delhi politics and potentially set precedents for handling similar controversies in state legislatures nationwide.
