Government puts up poster seeking response from LoP Atishi

The Delhi Government on Tuesday put up a poster featuring Leader of Opposition Atishi, with the words “Where is Atishi Marlena?” written on it, seeking a response from her over remarks allegedly made during proceedings in the Delhi Assembly earlier this month.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, in a press conference, spoke in detail about the dignity of the House, matters of faith, and the role of the Leader of the Opposition. Mishra said that this issue is extremely serious and should not be taken lightly.

He said that the issue relates to the January 6 sitting of the Assembly, when a discussion was being held to mark 350 years of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Mati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji. He alleged that objectionable language was used during the discussion, which hurt the religious sentiments and affected the dignity of the House.

“It is on record that the words used by Atishi Marlena, at the time when the Delhi Assembly was discussing the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, amount to sacrilege. They are a crime; they are a sin. Those words had absolutely no justification there. And the manner in which Atishi Marlena has absconded afterward-disappeared, gone missing, makes it clear that this sin was committed deliberately,” he said.

Mishra said Atishi has remained absent from the Assembly, the media and the public since the incident, despite repeated requests by the Speaker for her to come to the House and clarify her position. He said that on January 7, at around 11:30 am, the Speaker read out the verbatim of the video related to the remarks in the House, and no member raised any objection at that time.

Mishra further alleged that efforts were made to suppress the matter by misusing the resources of the Punjab government and Punjab Police, claiming that false FIRs were registered outside Delhi and attempts were made to intimidate people.

Mishra said, “Today, we are releasing a poster of Atishi Marlena and want her to come up and apologise for her statement.” Mishra urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann not to become a party to the matter and said Punjab Police should be kept away from such issues. He also called upon Atishi to come before the media and the public and face the Assembly's Privileges Committee and the legal process.

Reacting to Mishra's claim, the Aam Aadmi Party has reiterated its demand for a public apology from BJP minister in the Delhi cabinet, Kapil Mishra, for committing 'Beadbi' (sacrilege) of the Sikh Guru Sahibs, describing the act as a grave and unforgivable offence. AAP's National Media In-charge Anurag Dhanda said that the dignity of the Guru Sahibs cannot be compromised for political gain and emphasised that Kapil Mishra should go to the Sri Akal Takht Sahib to atone for his actions.

Gupta grants 3 more days to Punjab cops for filing reply

New Delhi: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has granted three extra days to the top Punjab Police officers for filing their replies regarding an FIR registered against Delhi minister Kapil Mishra by using a video clip of the Assembly. The Punjab Police have been directed to furnish a complete report by January 15, along with all relevant facts and explanations, so that further action may be taken, he stated. Speaker Gupta, in a press conference on Tuesday, said, “Punjab Police have replied asking for 10 days' time, but looking at the seriousness of the matter, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat has given them only three days to submit the full report by 15 January.” The notices were issued to the Punjab DGP, special DGP (cybercrime) and Jalandhar police commissioner for “breach of Delhi Assembly's privileges” last week, seeking their replies within 48 hours.

Speaker Gupta on Tuesday said that this raises serious questions about the independence and impartiality of the investigating agency. He further stated that, looking at the seriousness of the matter, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat has informed the Punjab Police that only three days' time has been granted for submission of the complete report.

He emphasised that the matter relates directly to the jurisdiction of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and that all original videos and documents are the property of the Assembly. Pertinent questions were raised by him as to how the Punjab Government initiated the forensic examination, who issued the orders and on what basis, and which video material is being examined, when the Assembly was neither contacted nor any documents requested.

The clip of the Assembly's video recording was posted by Mishra and several BJP MLAs on social media, alleging that Leader of Opposition Atishi insulted Guru Tegh Bahadur after a debate in the House on January 6.  The debate was based on a Delhi government programme held last November to mark the ninth Sikh guru's 350th martyrdom anniversary.