Delhi Assembly Election 2025: The BJP-vs-AAP war of words is getting uglier by the day. In the latest battle, the AAP has slammed BJP leader and New Delhi seat candidate Pravesh Verma for allegedly insulting Punjabis.
Pravesh Verma, who is fighting Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi elections, had said thousands of vehicles with Punjab number plates are plying Delhi roads. “No one knows what are they doing here ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. What could they do that could pose a threat to our safety and security? These vehicles need to be checked.”
दिल्ली देश की राजधानी है। यहाँ हर राज्य से लोग आते हैं। यहाँ हर प्रदेश के नंबर की गाड़ियां चलती हैं। किसी भी राज्य के नंबर की गाड़ियां देश के किसी भी हिस्से में जा सकती हैं, इस पर कोई रोक टोक नहीं है।
बीजेपी का ये बयान सुनिए। ये बेहद खतरनाक, चिंताजनक और पंजाबियों के लिए… pic.twitter.com/LOdETjaPOs
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 21, 2025
AAP Slams BJP Over Parvesh Verma’s ‘Punjab Cars’ Statement
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal slammed the statement, calling it an insult to Punjabis. He demanded an apology from Verma. In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, “Millions of Punjabis live in Delhi whose families and their ancestors have made countless sacrifices for the country. Millions of Punjabi refugees also live in Delhi who had left everything and settled in Delhi during the difficult period of partition. Their families have also suffered countless hardships”.
Kejriwal further wrote in his post, “What the BJP leaders are saying today, they are insulting their martyrdom and sacrifice. I was very pained to hear this statement. Delhi has been developed by Punjabis. By calling Punjabis a threat to the country, the BJP has insulted lakhs of Punjabis living in Delhi. The BJP should apologize to the Punjabis”.
दिल्ली में लाखों पंजाबी रहते हैं जिनके परिवारों ने और उनके पूर्वजों ने देश के लिए न जाने कितनी क़ुर्बानियाँ दी हैं।
दिल्ली में लाखों पंजाबी रेफ़्यूजी भी रहते हैं जो बँटवारे के मुश्किल दौर में सब कुछ छोड़कर दिल्ली आ कर बसे थे। इनके परिवार ने भी अनगिनत यातनाएँ सही हैं।
भाजपा के… https://t.co/87IXSekhDs
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 22, 2025
After this statement of Pravesh Verma, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also slammed the BJP leader. He said: “Delhi is the capital of the country. People come here from every state. Vehicles of every state ply here. Vehicles of any state can go to any part of the country; there is no restriction on this. The BJP’s statement is dangerous, worrying, and insulting to Punjabis. Today, every Punjabi is feeling very hurt and humiliated.”
Parvesh Verma To File Defamation Cases Against Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann
Clarifying his statement, Parvesh Verma said he would file defamation cases of Rs 50 crore each against Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann for their allegations. “I have filed complaints with the Election Commission and the Delhi Police that thousands of cars from Punjab have been roaming in New Delhi for the past one week. Punjab CM, ministers, their MLAs and their party workers are roaming in their private cars that have ‘Government of Punjab’ stickers pasted on them… They are distributing alcohol, CCTV cameras, and money here,” he said.
#WATCH | #DelhiElections | BJP candidate from the New Delhi assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma says, “…I have filed a complaint to the Election Commission and also filed a written complaint to the Delhi Police, that in last one week, thousands of cars of Punjab are roaming… pic.twitter.com/uFRGzRnWs4
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
“AAP knows that they are losing the elections hence they are making false statements against me. I have filed a Rs 100 crore defamation case against Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. I shall use the money for the people of New Delhi assembly constituency,” Verma said.
