BJP slams Bharadwaj for ‘insensitive’ post on blast victim

A political row broke out on Thursday after Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj shared a post on X, comparing photos of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting the same blast victim on two separate days at the LNJP Hospital.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Bharadwaj of “doing politics over human suffering” and “disrespecting both the victim and the doctors”.

Sharing two photos — one of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta meeting the victim on November 11 and another of the Prime Minister’s visit on November 12, Bharadwaj wrote, “On November 11, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met the patient. On November 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the same patient — a new costume and a new plaster on the hand.”

Talking about his post on X, Bharadwaj alleged that after the blast, the protocol for emergency care was not followed. “The patient was not given first aid and was kept waiting until a Delhi government official arrived. Photo sessions were held inside the ward. The plaster was not applied on the first day but only after the Prime Minister visited the next day. Politicians are busy with PR stunts even during such difficult times,” he said.

The remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP’s leaders, who called them “inhumane” and “politically motivated”.

BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, said, “It is extremely shameful that a party built on a foundation of lies has now stooped to doing politics over the blast victims. This is nothing but the political bankruptcy of an unemployed leader.”

Khandelwal said he visited the LNJP Hospital on November 11, a day before the Prime Minister’s visit. “The treatment had already started by then and the plaster had been applied. I was at the hospital when Saurabh Bharadwaj also arrived. If he has the courage, let him release those photos — the truth will be out,” he said.

The MP accused Bharadwaj and the Aam Aadmi Party of misleading people. “Their defeat has pushed them to such lows that they are now questioning even the victims. This is the same party that once doubted army. Spreading lies and creating confusion has become their habit,” he said.

Khandelwal also clarified that “Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met the victims on the night of November 10 and the plaster was applied after a proper medical examination that same night. This completely exposes the falsehood being spread by Saurabh Bharadwaj.”

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor also condemned Bhardwaj’s remarks and took to X, saying, “By calling the patient’s plaster a costume, you have insulted the doctors at THE LNJP Hospital. Many times, medical treatment decisions take a little time.”

He urged AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to ask Bharadwaj to delete his tweet and apologise to the victim and doctors.