Face of power that no longer fears voters: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP
Rahul Gandhi targets the BJP over a video showing a Delhi Minister allegedly slapping a man, calling it a sign of a power that fears no voters.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP on Sunday following the release of a controversial video. The footage allegedly shows Delhi PWD Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh slapping a young man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar.
Arrogance of power vs. public accountability
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the senior Congress leader claimed the incident is a stark representation of an administration that has become immune to public scrutiny. According to Gandhi, the victim's only "crime" was filming the ongoing roadwork.
"A BJP minister from the Delhi government is seen slapping a young man in a video. His crime? He was making a video. A road was being dug up right in front of the minister, and he had a camera in his hand," Gandhi wrote. He further remarked, "This is the face of a power that no longer fears the voters."
Gandhi drew parallels between various forms of perceived retaliation by the government, stating that questioning authority is met with physical or systemic suppression. He noted:
- 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.
The Congress leader suggested that such behavior stems from a sense of impunity, alleging that electoral manipulation and "vote theft" have emboldened the ruling party to demand blind devotion rather than seeking public consent.
Allegations of corruption and poor road quality
The controversy has also opened a wider debate on infrastructure quality in the capital. Congress leader Udit Raj accused the BJP government of systemic corruption, alleging that roads undergo superficial work only to develop potholes immediately after inauguration.
Raj suggested that the minister's aggressive outburst might have been a reaction to the exposure of such corrupt practices. He noted that whether it is a major highway or a local street, the rapid deterioration of road surfaces is a recurring theme that triggers public frustration.
The Minister's Defense: Claims of extortion and abuse
In response to the backlash, Pravesh Sahib Singh has denied the implications of the incident and leveled counter-accusations. In a video statement shared on X, Singh claimed that he was provoked by the behavior of AAP MLA Jarnail Singh's supporters.
Singh alleged that:
- AAP workers hurled verbal abuses at his family members.
- There was an attempt by the AAP leader to extort a commission for a specific road project.
The incident remains a significant flashpoint in the ongoing political friction between the Congress and the BJP in the national capital.