BJP, AAP in war of words over Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh portraits at Delhi CM office
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party Monday alleged that B R Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh's portraits were removed from Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's office, a charge denied by the ruling BJP.
The BJP accused the opposition party of trying to divert people's attention from the CAG reports that will be tabled in the Assembly to expose "corruption" by AAP when it was in power.
The Delhi BJP shared photos of the chief minister's office on social media and said, "The portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh the President and the prime minister are displayed in the offices of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other ministers."
On the eve of Republic Day in 2022, then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal directed officials that only the portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh will be displayed in government offices, including the CM's office. Photos of no other political leader will be displayed in Delhi government offices, he had said.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi raised the issue in the first session of the newly constituted eighth Delhi Assembly earlier in the day.
"It is unfortunate the Delhi Assembly is being led by a party that is anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh. The BJP has removed photographs of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh from the chief minister's office, showing its anti-Dalit stance," she alleged in the Assembly.
In a press conference, Atishi showed a photo of the CM Office captured on an iPad, and said, "This is today’s photo when our MLAs went to meet the CM. The photos have been removed, which proves that the BJP is an anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh party."
She alleged the BJP has "disrespected" Babasaheb and the Sikh community, by removing the portraits. The AAP strongly opposes this and will protest against it in the streets as well as in the Assembly, she added.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said the move has hurt millions of Ambedkar followers.
"The new BJP government of Delhi removed Babasaheb's photograph and put up a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is not right. This has hurt millions of followers of Babasaheb," he said in a post on X.
"I have a request for the BJP. You can put up the prime minister's photograph but do not remove that of Babasaheb. Let it remain," he added.
Rejecting the charges, Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said "This is being done deliberately by the AAP to divert attention from the CAG report that will be presented tomorrow."
He said the CM's office still has pictures of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, along with those of the prime minister, president, and Mahatma Gandhi. "This move is a clear attempt to distract the public," Sirsa said.
"When AAP was in power, it suppressed the CAG report for three years. Now, when it is about to be released, they are creating unnecessary drama. No one respects Babasaheb Ambedkar more than we (BJP) do," the minister added.
Another minister in the BJP government, Ravinder Indraj, showed the portraits of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar in the chief minister's office in Assembly Vidhan Sabha and said the AAP leaders were "scared" because the CAG reports are going to be tabled in the House on Tuesday.
"Most of their leaders were in jail on corruption charges and they fear that they might have to go again. Once the CAG report is out, they will have to face the consequences again. This is why they are acting out of desperation," Indraj said.
Cabinet minister Parvesh Verma slammed the AAP, claiming the opposition party's MLAs disrupted the House, and "intruded" into the chief minister's office in the Assembly, and it is unacceptable.
"Over the past ten years, the Aam Aadmi Party has done nothing for the upliftment of Delhi. Today they have violated the dignity of the assembly," he said.
दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री श्रीमती @gupta_rekha एवं सभी मंत्रियों के कक्ष में श्रद्धेय महात्मा गांधी जी, बाबा साहेब भीमराव अंबेडकर जी, भगत सिंह जी, महामहिम राष्ट्रपति जी एवं प्रधानमंत्री जी के चित्र सुशोभित हैं। pic.twitter.com/zx6puyqr1w
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) February 24, 2025
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Speaker Khader dismisses BJP's charges of 'delay' in swearing-in of Jeevaraj as MLA
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Wednesday rejected opposition BJP's allegations of delaying the swearing-in of D N Jeevaraj as MLA, asserting that the process was being handled strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions and rules.
BJP candidate Jeevaraj, who had lost the 2023 Sringeri Assembly election to Congress leader T D Raje Gowda, was declared elected late Sunday night after reverification and recounting of postal ballots in compliance with a High Court order.
The recount reduced 255 votes from Gowda's tally, overturning his earlier victory margin of 201 votes and reversing the result.
The recount followed an election petition filed by Jeevaraj.
Addressing reporters, Khader maintained that there was no delay in administering the oath to Jeevaraj, who was declared elected from the Sringeri Assembly constituency after a High Court-ordered recount of postal ballots.
“Where have we delayed? The application was submitted at 11 am. If an application is given in the morning and by evening someone says it’s delayed — how is that a delay?” he said, dismissing the allegations.
The Speaker said the matter involved 'technical issues' that required examination before fixing a date for oath-taking.
“When such a matter comes, we also need to examine it and take a decision as per rules. If an application is given in the morning, at least 24 hours must be given,” he said.
Khader stressed that his role was bound by the Constitution and not influenced by political considerations.
“When an elected MLA asks for time, we must give it under the Constitution and law. Can we refuse? No, we have to give it,” he said, rejecting suggestions that he was acting under party pressure.
He also underlined the need for trust in democratic institutions amid the controversy.
“A democracy and parliamentary system must function on trust. Without that, how can democracy be strengthened? Trust is essential,” he said, cautioning against creating suspicion around constitutional positions.
On claims that the delay was linked to the ongoing political and legal dispute over the recount, Khader said the issue did not fall within his purview.
“My responsibility is to act as per the Constitution and rules. I will ensure that whatever is due to them is done as soon as possible,” the Speaker explained.
He said he had already communicated his position when contacted and would formally inform the concerned parties. “There is no delay, nor any intention to delay. I will discharge my duties as per the Constitution,” he said.
Khader also pointed to possible legal complications in hastily administering the oath.
“If I give the oath to one person and tomorrow the court declares someone else the winner, what happens then? Will it automatically cancel? Will confusion arise?” he asked, indicating the need for due diligence.
On concerns that Jeevaraj had lost over two years of tenure, the Speaker said representation was linked to that constituency rather than an individual.
“Whoever becomes the MLA represents the constituency. Benefits are not given to an individual,” he said, adding that issues of alleged irregularities should be examined by the Election Commission.
The remarks come after the Leader of Opposition BJP in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka on Wednesday accused the Speaker of 'deliberately' delaying the oath and approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking intervention, even suggesting that the Governor administer the oath if required.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the process 'Vote Dacoity' by Jeevaraj and said an FIR has been registered against the newly elected Sringeri MLA.
Defending the recount process, Jeevaraj denied allegations of tampering, while the High Court has stayed an FIR filed against him in connection with the postal ballot issue.
