In a sharp political counter-attack, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has launched a fierce critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party's chief spokesperson and Ajnala legislator, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, on Saturday, labeled the actions of BJP leaders in the Delhi Assembly as "extremely shameful."
A Sacred Land Insulted, Says AAP Leader
Addressing the media in Amritsar, Dhaliwal expressed strong condemnation. He stated that Punjab, revered as the sacred land of Gurus and saints, had been deeply insulted by the BJP's tactics. The AAP leader accused the saffron party of leaving no stone unturned in disrespecting the Gurus to serve its narrow political interests.
Dhaliwal asserted that the BJP has stooped to a new low by deliberately exploiting religious sentiments for what he called "petty politics." This accusation forms the core of the AAP's offensive against its national rival.
The Forensic Investigation of the Atishi Video
The controversy centers on a video involving Atishi, the former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Delhi. Dhaliwal highlighted that a fake video of Atishi was circulated widely, a act he termed a "matter of deep concern." The video was allegedly released from the social media account of BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
However, the narrative took a turn following a forensic investigation. Dhaliwal explained that a complaint from a person based in Jalandhar led to a detailed forensic probe of the video. The results of this investigation proved that Atishi did not mention the name of any Gurus in her entire original statement. The video had been tampered with to misrepresent her words.
According to the AAP spokesperson, this act of video manipulation fully exposed the BJP's "vile mentality." It demonstrated, in his view, a willingness to use deceptive means to create communal disharmony and gain political mileage.
Political Repercussions and the Road Ahead
This incident has intensified the political war of words between the AAP and the BJP, particularly in the context of Punjab. Dhaliwal's strong statements from Amritsar signal the AAP's strategy to frame the BJP as a party that disrespects Punjab's core religious values for electoral gains.
The use of a forensic report to counter the viral video adds a new dimension to political accusations, moving beyond mere claims to citing technical evidence. The Saturday press conference sets the stage for further confrontations, with the AAP vowing to highlight what it sees as the BJP's unethical political conduct. The fallout from this controversy is likely to resonate in the political discourse of the region in the coming days.
