Parvesh Verma slap row: What to know about Delhi’s Tilak Nagar road check incident during AAP protests – 5 points | Today’s news
A political row erupted in Delhi on Sunday after a video surfaced on social media purportedly showing Public Works (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma slapping a man during a roadside check in Tilak Nagar.
The incident sparked a confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanding action against the minister.
Tilak Nagar slapping incident: Top 5 points
- The Delhi Police received a complaint from a man who allegedly slapped Verma during an inspection, PTI reported citing police sources. A complaint has been received at the Vikaspuri police station and the officer said the facts are being verified.
2. The incident occurred when Verma was inspecting a newly laid road in the area. AAP MLA Jarnail Singh was also present and questioned the quality of the road after he manually pulled out parts of its surface.
3. A man who identified himself as Saheb Singh and said he was associated with Jarnail Singh and managed the MLA’s social media accounts was recording the proceedings when Verma allegedly slapped him. The video of the confrontation subsequently went viral on social media.
Singh claimed that Verma took his phone before raising his hand to him. He further alleged that the minister’s security personnel restrained him and that the BJP workers accompanying Verma threatened him.
“I was recording a video when Parvesh Verma snatched my phone and raised his hand on me, which is clearly visible in the video. His security personnel held my hand and grabbed my neck, tried to squeeze it and dragged me away. Three to four BJP workers were also with him. They also misbehaved with me, raised their hands on me and threatened to kill me,” said Saheb Singh.
4. Verma disputed the version presented by AAP and said that the video that was being circulated did not show the full context of the incident.
In his statement, he claimed that Jarnail Singh was against the road work and alleged that AAP workers accompanying the MLA abused his family during the inspection. Verma also alleged that the MLA sought commission from PWD engineers in connection with the project.
Verma explained his reaction: “When one of their workers started hurling abuse at my family, any individual who comes and does that in such a situation, I did the same.”
He also said he went to check the road after being told it had not been built for about 15 years and claimed work was progressing well when he arrived at the site.
5. Meanwhile, AAP leaders have demanded action against Verma, accusing him of reacting after questions were raised about the quality of the road. The party also organized a protest in Tilak Nagar over the incident.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj was detained by the police during the demonstration, according to reports.
AAP posted on X: “Hooliganism will not be tolerated 🔥 Massive protest demonstration in Tilak Nagar against Minister Pravesh Verma’s hooliganism in BJP Govt. Put that slapping minister behind bars.”
Jarnail Singh and other AAP leaders also called for action against the minister, while the BJP defended Verma’s explanation of the incident.
