Jalandhar: A compilation of video recordings of proceedings of Delhi Vidhan Sabha from Jan 6-9, pertaining to former Delhi CM Atishi’s alleged remark that has triggered a controversy, has been posted on official social media accounts of Delhi assembly.The post reproduces the same caption on Atishi’s remark, which was termed “doctored” and “highly inflammatory” by Punjab Police, citing a forensic report. The status posted along with the 14.57-minute video mentions “undignified remarks made by the Leader of Opposition towards Gurus”, while informing that Speaker Vijender Gupta has clarified the ‘factual position’ on the issue.
The caption containing the word “guruon” (Gurus) contradicts the forensic report cited by Jalandhar Police Commissionerate in its Jan 9 statement, which said the word “Guru” was not uttered by her in the video clips being circulated on social media. Also, there was deliberate doctoring of the video to attribute words in the captions that were never spoken by Atishi, police had said.Atishi has denied the accusations and charged BJP with insulting the Gurus.On Jan 6, Delhi ministers Kapil Sharma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa can be heard taking strong exception to Atishi’s remark in the assembly. After a few minutes, the Speaker calls it a very ‘sensitive’ issue.On Jan 7, the speaker can be heard saying, “It is highly condemnable, what the Leader of Opposition said in assembly… I said yesterday that I would study the verbatim (proceedings). On the basis of the verbatim, objectionable words were spoken. When discussion was on to pay tributes to the Guru Maharaj (Ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur) then unparliamentary words were used, which is highly condemnable.”“…The opposition should apologise, use of such words is condemnable. What came out in the verbatim is objectionable,” he said, and urged the Leader of Opposition (Atishi) to come to the assembly and clarify.Then he can be seen reading out from the text in his hand. Immediately afterwards, the video posted by the Delhi assembly’s social media handles runs the “controversial” caption of the remark in question.During these proceedings, the Speaker can be heard repeatedly saying that it was a very sensitive and serious issue.Mishra and Sirsa posted Atishi’s video with a caption; the same content was then posted from several BJP social media accounts. On Jan 7 evening, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress MLAs Pargat Singh and Sukhpal Singh Khaira also posted the video with a caption. Later that night, an FIR was registered by the cybercell police station of Jalandhar Commissionerate on the basis of a complaint from Jalandhar-based AAP worker Iqbal Singh, better known as IS Bagga.Jalandhar police on Jan 9 announced registration of the FIR, saying examination of the video clip — downloaded from the X account of Delhi minister Kapil Mishra — by the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mohali, had found it to be “doctored”.The issue echoed in Delhi assembly the same evening. Seeing it as a breach of privilege, the Delhi Speaker on Jan 10 sent notices to Punjab DGP, special DGP (cybercrime), and Jalandhar police commissioner to submit their written explanations along with relevant documents — copies of the complaint, FIR, and forensic laboratory report — by Jan 12 ‘without fail’.The three police officers wrote separate but identical letters to the Delhi assembly secretary on Monday, seeking 10 more days, but the Speaker granted three more days and asked them to submit their explanations by Jan 15.BJP tweeted video with 2 lies: AtishiAtishi has accused BJP of falsely using Guru’s name. On the night of Jan 7, she posted on her X handle: “BJP wrongly used Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s name and insulted Guru Sahib. They tweeted a video in which two lies were told about Guru Sahib. Lie No. 1: This video is from after the discussion on Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s martyrdom’s 350 years had concluded — when discussion on the LG’s address had started. Lie No 2: In the video, I spoke about BJP avoiding discussion on pollution and their protest in the assembly on the issue of stray dogs: ‘So why don’t you hold the discussion? Why are you running away since morning? They are saying, respect dogs! Respect dogs! Speaker Sir, please hold a discussion on this.‘ But BJP put false subtitles and inserted Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s name in it.” She added: “What hatred does BJP have for Sikhs that they are dragging Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s name falsely?” “…I can give up my life but cannot insult Guru Sahib.”
