'Is Modi bigger...?' AAP targets BJP over missing Ambedkar photos
What's the story
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of removing photographs of BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the Chief Minister's office in Delhi. The allegations came during a heated assembly session on Monday. AAP leader Atishi alleged that these images were replaced with those of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She called it proof of the BJP's "anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh" stance.
Support and criticism
Kejriwal supports Atishi's claims, criticizes BJP
AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also backed Atishi's allegations. He said the removal of Ambedkar's photo had hurt millions of his followers. "The new BJP government in Delhi removed Babasaheb's photo and replaced it with Prime Minister Modi's photo. This is not right," he said. "It has hurt the sentiments of millions of Babasaheb's followers," he added.
Defense and dismissal
BJP dismisses allegations, defends photo display decision
In response to the AAP's allegations, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta dismissed them as tactics to obscure their own "corruption and misdeeds." Gupta defended the decision to display photos of national leaders like Gandhi and Modi in the CM office. She emphasized that Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar are respected figures but maintained that it is appropriate for government leaders' photos to be displayed.
Criticism and condemnation
BJP MLAs criticize AAP for disrupting assembly session
BJP MLA Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also accused the AAP of neglecting development in Delhi during their tenure and disrupting the assembly session. Another BJP MLA, Shikha Rai, condemned the AAP for what she termed as "drama" during the assembly proceedings. The controversy erupted during the first assembly session after the BJP won in the recent elections. During the three-day session, the pending reports on the performance of the previous AAP government will be tabled.