The first day of the Delhi Assembly session was quite tumultuous. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) created a ruckus in the house over the removal of the pictures of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from the Chief Minister’s office. Leader of Opposition Atishi accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh stance, attacking them inside the assembly. Now, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has responded to the issue. She stated that it is not her job to respond to such allegations, as she is accountable to the people.

What did Rekha Gupta say about AAP’s allegations?

On the issue of removing the pictures of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh from the CM’s office, Rekha Gupta remarked that this was merely a strategy by AAP to hide their corruption and misdeeds behind the names of these great personalities. She questioned, “Shouldn’t the picture of the head of the government be displayed? Shouldn’t the picture of the President of the country be displayed? Shouldn’t the picture of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, be displayed?” She emphasized that Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar are highly respected figures and serve as guiding lights for the nation. However, she clarified that the office belongs to the Chief Minister of Delhi, and as the head of the government, the CM’s picture has been placed there. She reiterated, “It is not my job to respond to such allegations; I am accountable to the people.”

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh mindset over the removal of pictures both inside and outside the House. Atishi stated that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar gave the country its Constitution, providing Dalits and backward communities an opportunity to progress, while Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for India’s independence. By removing the pictures of these two great figures from the Chief Minister’s office, the BJP has insulted them. The AAP will oppose this move both on the streets and in the Assembly.

Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his concern on his X handle, stating that the new BJP government in Delhi replaced Dr. Ambedkar’s photo with that of Prime Minister Modi. He called this move inappropriate, as it has deeply hurt millions of Ambedkar’s followers. Kejriwal urged the BJP to install the Prime Minister’s photo if they wished, but not at the cost of removing Dr. Ambedkar’s picture, requesting that it be restored.