A political controversy unfolded in Delhi on Sunday when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma of slapping a man who was filming a road inspection in the Tilak Nagar assembly constituency. AAP leaders circulated a video on social media capturing a tense confrontation between Verma and bystanders at the scene. This incident has raised questions about accountability and conduct among public officials.
He also alleged that the minister lost his temper after issues related to the road work were raised. I will visit Tilak Nagar tomorrow to inspect this road. AAP MLA from Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh alleged that the incident took place after questions were raised over the quality of road construction. In a video shared on social media, Singh was seen questioning the quality of the newly laid road while pulling out chunks of the surface with his hands. AAP national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also shared the video and demanded action against Verma. Arrest this minister. Congress leader Alka Lamba also criticised the alleged incident in a post on X. “Only part of the details are being shared but the whole truth is that the MLA had been upset with the development work. He also asked the local PWD engineers for commission in the work.
Verma, however, rejected the allegations of the incident being linked solely to questions over the road and said he had gone to the area for an inspection after being informed that the road had not been repaired for 15 years.
Singh said the man was recording the proceedings when the confrontation occurred. “The cameraman is my colleague and was recording the proceedings when the incident took place,” Singh said. He said, “A minister in Modi ji’s government publicly slapped a young man for highlighting corruption in road construction… Referring to the minister, she said, “The intoxication of power is going to the heads of BJP leaders… soon the time will come when the same public will turn around and give exactly this kind of reply. During the inspection, he called scores of party workers who were abusing my family, which cannot be tolerated,” Verma said.
