A major uproar erupted in the Delhi Assembly on Friday when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi raised the issue of the removal of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh's portraits from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's office.
New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly witnessed significant commotion on Friday after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the portraits of constitution maker Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and revolutionary Bhagat Singh had been removed from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's office. Former Chief Minister Atishi and other AAP MLAs staged a protest in the Assembly over this issue.
AAP Accuses BJP of Anti-Dalit Mentality
Leader of the Opposition Atishi claimed that during Arvind Kejriwal's tenure as Chief Minister, Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh's portraits were displayed in every Delhi government office. However, the BJP government removed them upon assuming power. "The new BJP government in Delhi removed Baba Saheb's photo and replaced it with Prime Minister Modi's. This reflects an anti-Dalit mindset and is an act that hurts the sentiments of millions of Indians." AAP also claimed that the Chief Minister's office now displays portraits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Arvind Kejriwal's Statement: 'Don't Remove Baba Saheb's Picture'
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal also bly objected to the issue. He stated, "You can put up the Prime Minister's photo, but don't remove Baba Saheb's photo. This has hurt the feelings of millions of Baba Saheb's followers." Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the BJP clarified that no disrespect was intended towards any great leader, and that only office renovations were undertaken.
Speaker Vijender Gupta's Remarks
Speaker Vijender Gupta deemed the AAP MLAs' protest inappropriate, stating, "This House is not a political platform. Changing portraits should not be a matter of contention. Atishi's behavior was improper, and I bly condemn it." This controversy has escalated the conflict between the AAP and BJP. The AAP is portraying it as anti-Dalit politics, while the BJP is calling it a standard procedure for government offices.
