Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: BJP leader Parvesh Verma has been served multiple legal notices demanding a public apology for his controversial remarks regarding vehicles from Punjab entering Delhi in the run-up to the Assembly elections. The notices allege that Verma’s comments insult the Punjabi community and amount to hate speech.
Verma’s Controversial Statement
In a media interaction, Verma alleged that thousands of vehicles with Punjab registration plates were moving in Delhi, implying that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was using Punjab government employees to influence voters. He also raised concerns about potential security risks ahead of Republic Day.
“Punjab CM, ministers, and MLAs are camping in Delhi. Thousands of vehicles from Punjab are here—who is in them? With Republic Day preparations underway, this is a serious concern,” Verma said.
He claimed to have raised the issue with the Election Commission and Delhi Police, alleging that Punjab government employees were masquerading as AAP workers.
Strong Reactions from AAP Leaders
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann condemned Verma’s remarks.
• Arvind Kejriwal: Highlighting the contributions of Punjabis in Delhi, Kejriwal stated, “Punjabis have made countless sacrifices for the nation. Verma’s comments insult their patriotism and sacrifice. BJP should apologise to Punjabis.”
• Bhagwant Mann: Calling the remarks “insulting,” Mann said, “Punjabis are not a threat to national security. Such baseless allegations for political gains demean the community.”
Legal Notices Against Verma
Lawyers representing individuals from Delhi and Punjab have sent legal notices to Verma, demanding a public apology. The notices assert that his remarks hurt the sentiments of Punjabis and portrayed them as security threats, which could incite violence and promote discord.
One notice highlighted, “Your remarks insult a community that has significantly contributed to the nation, wrongly painting them as potential wrongdoers.” Another described the statement as “hate speech.”
Defamation Case Filed by Verma
Defending his stance, Verma doubled down on his allegations and filed a ₹100 crore defamation case against Kejriwal and Mann, stating, “AAP leaders are making false allegations. I will use the defamation amount for the people of New Delhi.”
Election Context
Verma, a two-time MP, is contesting the Delhi polls from the New Delhi seat against Kejriwal and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.
As the political battle intensifies, the controversy has added fuel to the ongoing electoral discourse, with the Punjabi community’s pride and contributions at the forefront of the debate.
