Atishi's 'remarks' on Sikh Gurus: Punjab Govt skips deadline to file explanation to Delhi Assembly Secretariat

The Punjab Government has missed the February 12 deadline to furnish an explanation to the Delhi Assembly regarding the lodging of a case over the circulation of a controversial video allegedly containing derogatory remarks on Sikh Gurus by AAP leader Atishi.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta had sought an explanation from the government over the issue, citing the breach of the House privileges. Atishi, who is a former Delhi CM, had allegedly made the remarks during House proceedings in January.

The issue had kicked up a political row in the state, with ruling AAP alleging that the video was fake and circulated with malafide intention. The case was lodged against unidentified persons for circulating the clip. In a letter to the Delhi Assembly Secretariat, the Punjab Home Department said the reply to the Assembly Secretariat letter had been sent to a competent authority for nod before submission.

“A formal reply from the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, Punjab, reflecting the same position, has already been submitted for approval and will be dispatched to the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat once clearance is granted,” read an official communication from Superintendent II Narinder Kaur of the Home Department.

The communication also mentioned that the department did not receive any prior direct communication regarding complaints of breach of privilege and contempt linked to the alleged remarks in the Delhi Assembly.

“The Punjab Government clarified that, before the receipt of this letter, it had not been approached directly by the secretariat in the matter,” the letter read.

The Delhi Assembly had sought a written reply from the Home Department after Delhi legislator Kapil Mishra wrote to Speaker Gupta seeking protection after the FIR was registered in Jalandhar by the Punjab Police.

The department said the comments from key Punjab authorities, including the Director General of Police (DGP), the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, and the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had already been sent to the secretariat.

“These responses were forwarded after obtaining approval from the competent authority, following letters that were addressed directly to those offices by the secretariat,” the letter mentioned.