NEW DELHI: Several Delhi ministers, including Pravesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on January 7, 2025, submitted a memorandum to Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta seeking termination of the Leader of Opposition Atishi’s membership in connection with the alleged insult of the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
“We have written a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly that Atishi’s membership should be cancelled taking cognisance of the act she has committed… Not only this house but every citizen of the country is pained and hurt by this. Our gurus sacrificed their lives along with their entire families to strengthen the integrity of the country, but their mockery was made by the opposition leader, the AAP leader… We hope that Atishi’s membership will be cancelled,” Pravesh Verma said while speaking to the media.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, while condemning Atishi’s statement, asked the media to wait for the Assembly Speaker, Vijender Gupta, to release the video.
He also said that the reveal itself will demonstrate his claim of the statement’s “insensitivity” and the “ill-deeds” of the Leader of the Opposition.
Speaking to the media, he said, “I have requested the Speaker to release the statement of the LoP against Guru Tegh Bahadur. The LoP’s statement, made while the discussion of Guru Tegh Bahdur was ongoing, was insensitive. I am unable to comment, nor do I have the capability to listen to that statement again. We will definitely bring a motion to condemn this, but I am surprised that not even a few words have been uttered from their side so far… Guru Teg Bahadur is not associated with just one religion. His great martyrdom was to save the faith of the people of India. ”
Sikh delegation meets CM Rekha Gupta
Sikh committee members from Rakab Ganj Sahib Gurdwara also met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over LoP Atishi’s remark on Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. Speaker Gupta stated that he had a transcript of Atishi’s remarks and called on her to attend the sitting to explain her comments. He described her statement as objectionable and entirely unacceptable.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta alleged that Atishi made a “shameful and indecent” comment in the Assembly on the Sikh guru, and requested Speaker Vijender Gupta to initiate action against her.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party is in power in Punjab. And, the CM Bhagwant Maan has been summoned by Akal Thakt, following the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing the chief minister behaving in a manner that many Sikhs found disrespectful towards Sikh symbols and images of the Gurus.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj described the video as “highly objectionable” and said it had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs everywhere. Following this, the Akal Takht secretariat issued a formal summons to Bhagwant Mann, directing him to appear and explain his conduct.
