Delhi: In what could be one of the most deplorable political gimmick, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) East Delhi Candidate, Gautam Gambhir, has been accused of distributing ‘derogatory and casteist’ pamphlets against the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Atishi Marlena.
Addressing a press conference, earlier this afternoon, Atishi accused Gambhir and said that how could BJP stoop so low just to win a seat.
The pamphlet says that Atishi is a “good example of mixed breed,” was married to a “beefeater” and that she was “caught red handed while having sex in a compromising position with another teacher.”
It also contains scurrilous personal allegations of a sexual relationship between her and Delhi’s deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. It claims that “Atishi will also give birth to Sisodia’s son.”
Breaking down while reading the pamphlet, Atishi said that she was very pained on seeing it. She asked how women would feel safe if men like him get elected. “I have only one question for Gautam Gambhir. If he is doing this against one woman, what about the lakhs of women in east Delhi who are worried about their safety,” Atishi said.
Sisodia, whose image has also been tainted in the pamphlet, said, “The language in the pamphlet was so abusive and low that everybody will feel ashamed while reading it.” He further added that the last line in pamphlet clearly verifies that BJP and Gambhir is behind this shameful act. “We assure you that even if AAP and Congress join hands in Delhi, they will not win a single seat,” the last line reads.
“We never expected Gambhir to stoop so low. This can affect Atishi’s perception in the constituency. Allegations have been levelled against both Atishi and me,” he said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also condemned this act. He tweeted, “Never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low. How can women expect safety if people wid (with) such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for u. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against.”
Predictably, BJP and Gambhir have denied all the allegations. In a series of tweet, Gambhir said that he is ashamed to have a CM like Kejriwal. He then challenged Kejriwal saying that if he could prove BJP’s involvement then he will withdraw his candidature. He even accused Kejriwal of outraging the modesty of a woman, that also his own colleague, just to win the elections.
BJP’s Mamta Kale said, “Absolutely baseless charges have been levelled against Gautam Gambhir by AAP. AAP has a history of lying and politicising things.”
Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor condemned the pamphlet and said he cannot “assume of even speaking or writing such things.”
“The BJP has no association with the pamphlet. This is a product of the dirty tricks department of the AAP. Whenever in the last six years, they have sensed defeat, they have resorted to such tricks. From day one, Atishi was trying to destabilise the election campaign and this is one more trick,” said Kapoor.
He challenged the AAP to go to Delhi Police, to the Central Bureau of Investigation or the High Court to prove that BJP was behind the pamphlet. “Let them go to the Delhi Police, to the CBI. Let them go to High Court. If they prove we have done it, we will quit,” he said.
Earlier, Atishi, who has worked as an advisor to AAP in the Education ministry, had raised objections to Gautam Gambhir’s candidature and complained to the Election Commission that he had voter ID cards from two assembly constituencies. The complaint had been rejected.
Atishi and Gambhir are embroiled in a bitter battle for the East Delhi constituency which will go to polls on May 12 in Phase 6. Arvinder Singh Lovely is the Congress candidate on the seat.