Sikh Guru remark row: 'Atishi video not tampered,' says Delhi Speaker citing forensic probe report
Earlier, the police in AAP-ruled Punjab had claimed that their forensic examination had revealed that the video was 'doctored'
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday said a forensic science laboratory report had found that the video clip linked to Leader of Opposition Atishi’s remarks allegedly disrespecting Sikh gurus “was original and free from any tampering”.
Addressing a press conference, Gupta said the clip had been sent for forensic examination on January 8 on the demand of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). “The report clearly states that the alleged remarks by Atishi match frame by frame with the video and that it is completely original,” he said.
The statement comes amid conflicting claims after the police in AAP-ruled Punjab earlier said their forensic examination had concluded that the video was “doctored”, following which an FIR was registered. Subsequently, AAP’s chief whip in the Delhi Assembly, Sanjiv Jha, had demanded that Speaker Gupta should initiate breach of privilege proceedings against Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra for sharing the clip on social media.
Gupta alleged that the AAP government had acted hastily by conducting a separate forensic test and registering an FIR. He said he would seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the entire episode, including the forensic examination conducted by the Punjab Government.
Reacting to the Speaker’s remarks, minister Kapil Mishra took to social media platform X, asserting that the truth had prevailed and accused the AAP leadership of misusing the Punjab Police to shield Atishi.
Meanwhile, the AAP rejected the findings cited by the Speaker, maintaining that the word “Guru” was never used by Atishi. AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed that forensic reports had made it clear that no such word was spoken and alleged that the BJP and Mishra circulated a misleading video to spread hatred.
He said, “Two forensic reports have come forward, one by Punjab and another by BJP itself, and both clearly show that Atishi never used the word ‘Guru’.
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda also criticised the BJP, saying, “If the BJP genuinely wanted the truth, the report should have been submitted to the Privilege Committee instead of being used for political gain through a press conference.”
The controversy relates to remarks allegedly made by Atishi in the Assembly on January 6 during a discussion on a Delhi government programme held last year to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The issue has since escalated into a major political flashpoint between the BJP-led Delhi Government and the AAP-ruled Punjab Government.
