New Delhi: The BJP-AAP confrontation over the alleged insult of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur escalated on Saturday after Delhi Assembly speaker Vijender Gupta sent notices to the Punjab Police DGP, special DGP (cybercrime) and the police commissioner of Jalandhar, seeking replies within 48 hours for allegedly breaching the assembly privilege by using the house’s video footage for forensic examination and registration of an FIR. AAP called the move a misplaced attempt to “intimidate” the opposition.The speaker said the footage was an assembly property and its use hurt the house’s dignity. “The video… is not a personal recording but the official recording of the proceedings of the house, which is wholly the property of Delhi Assembly. The misuse of the property of the house in this manner and registration of an FIR against a minister on the basis of such material is not only unfortunate but also extremely serious and condemnable,” Gupta said at a press conference.
“The role of the police commissioner of Jalandhar in the entire episode is highly questionable and appears prima facie to be a clear case of breach of privilege of the house,” he added. “A direct case of privilege violation is, therefore, made out against him and the house will consider it seriously.” AAP Delhi convener Saurabh Bharadwaj said once in the public domain, legislative proceedings were open to scrutiny and criticism, and the real offence lay not in questioning a public video but in tampering it.BJP and AAP have been fighting over a clip shared by minister Kapil Mishra on X in which Atishi allegedly insulted Tegh Bahadur. AAP has disputed its authenticity, alleging that a fabricated transcript was attached to it and the action amounted to BJP insulting the Guru. BJP sought Atishi’s disqualification from the house and the speaker has ordered a forensic probe to verify the authenticity and also referred the matter to the privilege committee. AAP demanded Mishra’s disqualification. The confrontation intensified on Friday when it emerged that Punjab Police had registered an FIR in connection with the clip.Gupta said describing the official recording of the house as “tampered” or “doctored” amounted to a direct attack on the dignity of the assembly. “This is not merely a false allegation but appears to be a well-planned conspiracy aimed at undermining the prestige of the house and maligning constitutional institutions.” He assured that anyone found involved in this conspiracy would face the strictest possible action by the house.Bharadwaj said, “Whenever forgery is committed, anyone who feels aggrieved has the right to file a case. If any follower of the Sikh religion feels hurt, they can file a case. Police can also take suo motu cognisance and register a case because this is a cognisable offence.” He alleged that the power of privilege was “being used ina very casual andirresponsible manner”.Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed that Punjab Police and state govt had no authority to act on the issue.On Saturday, AAP protested at different places in Punjab and a group of its functionaries also went to Rajghat to pray and protest against BJP on the issue.
