The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday questioned the credibility of the BJP’s claims on ‘mahila samman’ (women’s dignity) after crude posters targeting Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi surfaced, bringing Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s silence under scrutiny. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said that only last week the Chief Minister sought moral cover in the name of women’s honour, but her party is now openly ridiculing a woman who has served Delhi as Chief Minister and is the first female LoP in the Delhi Assembly.
The AAP Delhi Unit Chief asked whether the principle of respect applies selectively, pointing out that Atishi never used the word “guru”, yet offensive posters are being circulated. If standards of dignity do not apply to the Leader of Opposition, he said, the Chief Minister too cannot seek immunity from accountability merely on the basis of being a woman.
During a media interaction on Tuesday, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Just two days ago, CM Rekha Gupta was lamenting in the Delhi Assembly that people were mocking her and making memes about her, and that she should be excused because she is a woman.” He added that over the past week, BJP ministers have been displaying extremely objectionable posters against Atishi, who is herself a woman. “Hoardings showing Atishi with her ears being held are being put up at various intersections across Delhi,” he said.
Referring to the video at the centre of the controversy, the AAP Delhi Unit Chief said, “This entire drama is over a video about which a forensic report has already come. The forensic investigation has clearly established that the words ‘guru’ or ‘gurus’ were not used in that video. Despite this, such shameful acts are continuing.”
Questioning the CM Rekha Gupta directly, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Is Atishi not a woman. Are the standards that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta claims should apply to her because she is a woman not applicable to Atishi. If those standards are not meant to apply to the Leader of Opposition, then they cannot be selectively applied to the Chief Minister either.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj concluded by saying, “If that is the case, Rekha Gupta should stop this public lamentation. This drama will not work, and neither will this so-called ‘women card’.”
