BJP minister Parvesh Verma slaps man during altercation in Delhi
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New Delhi: Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma allegedly slapped a man during an altercation over the quality of a road in the national capital’s Tilak Nagar area on Sunday.
A video shared by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shows Verma grabbing the man’s mobile phone before appearing to slap him. The man, identified as Saheb Singh, is associated with the social media activities of Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh and had gone to the site after the PWD called them to inspect the road, ANI reported.
Saheb Singh said he had pointed out sections of the road where the surface was breaking apart, following which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader slapped him. Police personnel were present at the spot and can be seen in the video attempting to break up the altercation.
Jarnail Singh alleged that instead of addressing concerns over the quality of the road, Verma slapped his colleague.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the man was slapped for “exposing corruption” in road construction. The AAP has also called for Verma’s arrest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, said the incident showed “the face of a power that no longer fears the voters”.
Verma, however, claimed that the AAP worker had allegedly abused his family. “When one of his [Jarnail Singh’s] workers started shouting abuses at my family, I reacted just as anyone would in the heat of the moment,” Verma said in a social media post.
He also alleged that Jarnail Singh had arrived at the site with “history-sheeter goons” and used abusive and indecent language.
Verma further alleged that the AAP MLA had been pressuring PWD engineers to introduce him to the contractor and arrange a commission for him.
The minister also accused the MLA of visiting the site at night after the roadwork was completed, damaging the newly laid road and recording videos alleging corruption because he had not received a commission.
The claims made by both sides about the circumstances leading to the altercation could not be independently verified.
