New Delhi: A political confrontation has intensified between Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal following a viral video showing Verma allegedly slapping a 22-year-old man during a road inspection in west Delhi.
The incident took place on Sunday during an inspection of a newly constructed road in the Vikas Puri-Tilak Nagar area, where AAP MLA Jarnail Singh and party workers were present. The video circulating on social media shows Verma pushing down the man’s mobile phone before appearing to slap him.
Verma Says AAP Worker Abused His Family
Verma later said he lost his temper after people accompanying Jarnail Singh allegedly abused his family. On Monday, he hit back at Kejriwal and rejected the description of the man involved as a Gen Z protester.
Verma alleged that the man had previously been booked in an assault case involving an MCD official and warned that he would not tolerate alleged obstruction of government development work by AAP workers or MLAs.
Verma also accused Jarnail Singh of interfering with road construction work and making demands from officials and the contractor. Complaints submitted by PWD officials and the contractor contain allegations of obstruction, intimidation and demands for money; these allegations are disputed by Jarnail Singh.
Kejriwal Demands Action Against Verma
Kejriwal responded by alleging that Verma had assaulted a young man and demanded that the minister be arrested.
The AAP has also accused Verma of using force after questions were raised over the quality of a newly constructed road. Jarnail Singh has rejected Verma’s allegations that the young man abused his family and said the man was recording the inspection for the AAP MLA’s social media team.
The young man, identified as Sahib Singh, has also denied abusing Verma and filed a complaint seeking action against the minister. Police are probing the complaints from both sides.
Road Quality Dispute Behind the Confrontation
The confrontation began during a dispute over the quality of a recently constructed road. AAP leaders and workers claimed that portions of the road could be pulled apart by hand and questioned the quality of the construction.
Verma was inspecting the road when the confrontation occurred. The competing allegations over the road work, the alleged assault and the conduct of those present have since turned the incident into a political dispute between the BJP and AAP.
Police are looking into the complaints and allegations made by both sides.