A major political controversy has erupted in the national capital after a viral video surfaced showing Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma allegedly slapping a young man who was live-streaming a road inspection in Tilak Nagar. The incident quickly escalated into a high-decibel war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the BJP, describing the assault as a symptom of a much deeper institutional issue. Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi posted: “A BJP minister from the Delhi government is seen slapping a young man in a video. His crime? He was making a video… This is the face of a power that no longer fears the voters.”
Linking the incident to broader national issues like paper leaks and parliamentary debate restrictions, Gandhi argued that electoral victories taken for granted have bred widespread arrogance. “Ask a question on the street – a slap. Ask a question on paper leaks – a lathi charge. Ask a question in Parliament – the mic is switched off,” Gandhi wrote, alleging that “vote theft buys not just the result, but the arrogance that follows.”
The confrontation unfolded during a joint road inspection attended by AAP MLA Jarnail Singh and Minister Parvesh Verma. Spotting poor construction quality, Jarnail Singh peeled off chunks of the freshly paved asphalt by hand, challenging the PWD minister on the spot.
As Verma began walking back to his vehicle, Singh’s associate and social media manager, Sahib Singh, continued recording the exchange on a mobile camera. Outraged by the live-stream, Verma lunged toward the youth, knocked down the phone, and struck him across the face.
Reactions and Defenses
- Parvesh Verma’s Defense: Dismissing Gandhi’s comments by telling him to “stay out of it,” the minister claimed that AAP workers had deliberately provoked him and hurled abuses at his family during the inspection, leading to a spontaneous reaction.
- AAP Demand for Action: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the act, demanding the immediate arrest of the PWD minister and announcing a personal site visit to inspect the road work.
- Victim’s Statement: The victim, Sahib Singh, confirmed he has filed an official police complaint at the Vikaspuri police station, accusing the minister and his security detail of physical assault and intimidation.
