New Delhi | Special Correspondent Arun Sharma

Political tempers in the national capital have flared up once again, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked in a bitter confrontation over an alleged video clip involving Leader of the Opposition Atishi. The controversy, far from dying down, escalated further on Tuesday, spilling over from the Assembly floor to the streets and raising questions about legislative decorum, policing and political interference.


The BJP has alleged that Atishi used objectionable remarks against Sikh gurus in a video purportedly linked to Assembly proceedings. Minister Kapil Mishra claimed that the issue was being deliberately suppressed through the alleged misuse of the Punjab Police, acting on the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP, however, has outrightly rejected these accusations, maintaining that the video clip was doctored and circulated for political mileage.


According to the AAP, Kapil Mishra intentionally inserted terms such as “sacrilege” to distort the clip and inflame public sentiment. The party accused the BJP of indulging in “cheap politics” and attempting to provoke the Sikh community for electoral gain.


Given the gravity of the allegations, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has ordered a forensic examination of the video clip. The matter has also been referred to the Privileges Committee. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police has registered an FIR following a forensic review, alleging tampering with the video.


Amid the political crossfire, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat released a compilation of video recordings of proceedings held between January 6 and 9 on its official social media platforms. In an accompanying statement, the Secretariat said allegations had been made against the Leader of the Opposition regarding remarks about Sikh gurus, while also asserting that steps were being taken to clarify the factual position.


Adding to the controversy, Minister Kapil Mishra put up a poster inside the Secretariat asking, “Where is Atishi Marlena?” He alleged that Atishi had not attended the Assembly or faced the media since the day of the incident. Atishi, on her part, has already dismissed all allegations as baseless.


What began as a dispute over a single video clip has now snowballed into a larger political battle, raising serious questions about the sanctity of the Assembly, the role of the police and the extent of political intervention. The direction of this high-voltage political drama is now expected to hinge on the findings of the forensic report and the proceedings of the Privileges Committee in the days ahead.