Delhi Assembly Speaker Alleges Punjab Government Withholding Crucial FIR File in Sikh Gurus Remarks Controversy
In a significant development that has escalated political tensions between Delhi and Punjab, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta made serious allegations on Friday against the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government. Gupta claimed that the Punjab administration has deliberately held back a critical file containing details of a First Information Report registered by state police concerning alleged derogatory remarks made against Sikh Gurus.
Assembly's Firm Stance on Religious Sentiments
The Delhi Assembly will not compromise with the honour of Sikh Gurus under any circumstances, declared Speaker Gupta during his statement. He expressed what he termed as "deep concern" over the conduct of the Punjab government regarding the alleged insult of Sikh Gurus by Delhi's Leader of Opposition Atishi during the winter session proceedings.
Gupta emphasized that the continued withholding of the related file raises several serious questions about transparency and accountability in the matter. "Neither a copy of the FIR was provided to us, nor was the original complaint shared with the Assembly," he stated categorically. The speaker further noted that no official investigation report has been made public despite repeated requests.
Suspicion of Deliberate Concealment and Political Conspiracy
The Delhi Assembly Speaker went on to suggest that the situation gives rise to suspicion of a larger conspiracy. "The silence and repeated delays witnessed in this matter indicate a deliberate attempt to conceal facts from public scrutiny," Gupta asserted. He made the explosive claim that the links of this case appear to extend directly to the Chief Minister of Punjab, which he said further adds to the gravity of the issue.
Gupta stressed that this is not merely an administrative or political matter but touches upon sensitive religious sentiments. "Any negligence or insensitivity in such a sensitive matter is completely unacceptable and will be addressed with the seriousness it deserves," he affirmed.
Contradictory Forensic Reports and Jurisdictional Disputes
The controversy has been further complicated by contradictory forensic reports from different laboratories. According to Punjab Police, their State Forensic Science Laboratory in Mohali examined the video clip in question and found it had been tampered with. However, a forensic laboratory in Delhi, which later examined the same clip on the direction of Speaker Gupta, allegedly found the video to be genuine and untampered.
An AAP functionary in Punjab responded to the allegations by questioning Gupta's jurisdiction. "He is the speaker of Delhi Assembly, not Punjab Assembly. He has no legislative jurisdiction over the working of police of another state," the functionary stated. The representative also noted that Gupta had referred to some forensic report by Delhi government but has yet to make it public for verification.
Official Responses and Committee Proceedings
Punjab Home Secretary Alok Shekhar and Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav both declined to comment on the matter when approached. However, it has been confirmed that Punjab Police has sent a formal reply through the home department to a notice from Delhi Assembly, justifying the registration of the FIR based on the report from the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Mohali.
The privileges committee of Delhi Assembly is currently investigating the alleged incident that occurred on January 6 during a discussion commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Atishi, in her official reply to the committee, has categorically refuted the charges against her and has demanded an unedited video recording of the related House proceedings for proper examination.
The Delhi Assembly had formally sought several documents from Punjab authorities, including:
- Replies from top Punjab Police officers involved in the case
- Copies of the original complaint that led to FIR registration
- The complete FIR document itself
- The forensic report from Punjab's laboratory
No immediate reaction was available from AAP leadership in Delhi regarding the latest allegations made by Speaker Gupta. The case continues to develop as both assemblies navigate the complex jurisdictional and political dimensions of this sensitive matter involving religious sentiments and inter-state governmental relations.
